Summary

  • Leclerc wins, with Sainz 2nd in Ferrari one-two

  • Multiple overtakes as Leclerc and Verstappen fight for lead

  • Both Red Bulls retire late on

  • First race of new car design era

  • Gasly, Verstappen, Perez out

Live Reporting

Michael Emons

  1. Team radio - Sainz

    "Think about three stops."

    Carlos SainzGetty Images

  2. 'It could be a really interesting fight for the top four'

    Sam Bird
    Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez are slowly creeping towards Max Verstappen. If they can keep this up for the next eight to 10 laps, they could be close when it is time to pit again. Then it could be a really exciting fight for the top four places.

  3. 'Great racing'

    Andrew Benson
    BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer in Bahrain

    Leclerc and Verstappen swap the lead four times in two laps after their first pit stops.

    Then a (very) late lunge and lock-up at Turn One from Verstappen is costly. He drops out of DRS range and Leclerc back in control for now. Great racing

  4. Team radio to Leclerc

    "Gap to Verstappen behind 1.5. Really good job before, keep it like this."

  5. 'Head down time now for Leclerc'

    Sam Bird
    Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    That was really fun. If you are Charles Leclerc after that intense battle it is now head down time, reel off laps, keep that Red Bull out of DRS range because you have seen how powerful that is.

  6. After those frantic laps, Max Verstappen is having to bide his time, nurse his tyres a bit, before another assault on the lead.

    We're not even halfway through this one so don't go anyway, it's been brilliant so far.

    Can the Mercedes pair sneak into podium contention? They're the only two on the hard tyres. Can they possibly make them last all race and not have to stop again?

  7. How it stands

    1. Leclerc (current tyres softs)
    2. Verstappen +1.9, softs
    3. Sainz +9.8, softs
    4. Perez +12.8, mediums
    5. Hamilton +20.8, hards
    6. Russell +27.1, hards
    7. Magnussen +32.5, softs
    8. Gasly +38.5, mediums
    9. Alonso +42.5, mediums
    10. Ocon +46.5, mediums

  8. 'A serious lunge from Max, but a bit desperate'

    Sam Bird
    Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    It was a serious lunge [from Max Verstappen] but a bit desperate. He needed to take this tyre further. Is that going to hurt his progress for the rest of the race now? Looking at that lock-up I think he will be OK. It looked more dramatic than it actually was.

  9. Another lunge from Verstappen at Turn 1 to go ahead, but it's a lock-up of the tyres, those soft tyres, and that flings the door back open for Leclerc to go back in front.

    In three laps in a row, Verstappen and Leclerc have both had the lead at certain points. Leclerc now ahead again. What a race, already.

    VerstappenGetty Images

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  11. Get Involved

    #bbcf1

    Argyle Jack: Leclerc and Verstappen are the only two keeping this interesting.

    Andrew Priestley: Incredible racing from the front two. Both FULLY committed.

    Ben: Ok Max v Leclerc is the season I've been waiting for.

  12. 'Ferrari are back!'

    Sam Bird
    Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    We have an amazing battle on our hands. Ferrari are back!

  13. Verstappen leads, then Leclerc leads

    The next lap sees another epic lap.

    Max Verstappen again, just as he did last lap, dives down the inside of Turn 1 to go ahead.

    Once again, Charles Leclerc makes a passing move a couple of seconds later to retake the lead.

    F1 bringing the excitement early on in 2022.

    Verstappen LeclercGetty Images

  14. 'What amazing racing'

    Sam Bird
    Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    I said Charles Leclerc would be in the lead but I didn't realise it would be like that. What amazing racing from these world-class drivers.

  15. Sam Bird
    Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    Very close but Charles Leclerc's tyres will now be up to temperature. For Sergio Perez, he has 39 laps to go on the hard tyre - can he make the hard tyre go 39 laps?

  16. Verstappen, the reigning world champion, dives down the inside of Turn 1, but he can only hold the lead for three corners as Leclerc goes back around the outside on Turn 4.

    Brilliant wheel-to-wheel racing. A strong start to 2022. Leclerc leads, but only just. Verstappen will be trying again.

    Great racing.

  17. Leclerc comes out close to Max Verstappen and the pair, in effect battling for the lead, go close to each other, but Leclerc holds the lead.

    Leclerc VerstappenGetty Images

  18. Team radio - Hamilton

    "That was a really early stop."

  19. Sam Bird
    Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    Max Verstappen is going soft, soft, medium - but I am saying Sergio Perez is going soft, hard and go to the end [in one stop rather than two].

  20. Now in comes race leader Charles Leclerc and it's a tidy stop from Ferrari.