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

  1. Postpublished at Lap 15/57

    In comes Max Verstappen from second and Red Bull don't follow Mercedes' tactics as it's more soft tyres to replace the other soft tyres for the Dutchman.

    That will mean it has to be at least a two-stopper for Verstappen.

  2. Listen to the opening lap againpublished at 15:26 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2022

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  3. Postpublished at Lap 14/57

    Lewis Hamilton is not behind Zhou Guanyu for long and the Briton is back in 11th, but no-one ahead of him has pitted yet.

  4. Team radio - Hamiltonpublished at 15:25 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2022

    "No grip on this tyre."

  5. 'First few corners are horrible'published at 15:25 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2022

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

    We saw this in free practice - the hard compound tyre is so difficult to switch on. That was not a brand new set of tyres for Lewis Hamilton.

    They have been scrubbed but it is not enough. They don't turn on for the first couple of laps - the first few corners are horrible.

  6. Hamilton pitspublished at Lap 12/57

    Lewis Hamilton is one of the first into the pits and he has come out on the hards, but the tyres are not warmed up yet and he is back out on track in 11th, which quickly becomes 12th as Zhou Guanyu goes past him.

    No matter what else happens today for Zhou, overtaking the seven-time world champion will be a special moment for the Chinese driver.

  7. Postpublished at 15:22 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2022

    Charles Leclerc has only won two Formula 1 races in his career but has nudged his lead over Max Verstappen to three seconds.

    Charles LeclercImage source, Getty Images
  8. 'Hamilton's rear tyres are getting angry'published at 15:22 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2022

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

    Looks like those rear tyres on Lewis Hamilton's car are getting as little bit angry. He is starting to squirm around a bit. I am wondering if Lewis pushed a little too hard at the beginning trying to get track position. Trying to force the issue with Carlos Sainz. I don't think it will be long before he is pitting.

  9. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 15:20 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2022

    #bbcf1

    quixoticgeek: At this stage we can probably at least say the new rules haven't made things worse... Still not sure if we're getting the level of improvement we were promised.

    Lady T: OMG, and the big gaps are there already. Is it too early or am I the only one that thinks this year's car gap are worse than previous. They'll be lapping the last few cars soon. shocking

  10. Postpublished at Lap 10/57

    Sergio Perez is attacking Lewis Hamilton for fourth, and the Mexican goes around the outside to regain the place he had lost on lap one.

    And the top five is now back to what it started off as - Leclerc, Verstappen, Sainz, Perez, Hamilton.

    Sergio perezImage source, Getty Images
  11. Postpublished at Lap 9/57

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

    The Haas seems to be struggling, we have seen Kevin Magnussen go long into turn one. I know the car had great qualifying pace but when the car is heavy on the soft tyres they seem to be lacking something.

    The two teams having a horrible start to the race are McLaren and Aston Martin.

  12. Postpublished at Lap 8/57

    No improvements from the McLaren pair, with Lando Norris 18th and Daniel Ricciardo 20th.

    McLaren did so well last year, but it could be a long 2022 for them - and they seem to have taken a big step backwards.

    MclarenImage source, Getty Images
  13. Postpublished at Lap 7/57

    Charles Leclerc's lead over Max Verstappen is at a steady two seconds. But it is already looking between those two with Carlos Sainz a further four seconds adrift in third.

    Max VerstappenImage source, Getty Images
  14. Postpublished at Lap 7/57

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

    We have seen some racing laps now of this new Formula 1 era and to me is the racing any closer? Are we seeing more overtaking? Are we seeing people being able to follow nose-to-tail? I am not sure just yet. I know it's early in the race, but it seems to be spread out already.

  15. Postpublished at 15:13 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2022

    Esteban Ocon gets a five-second penalty for an early clipping of Mick Schumacher, although both men are still in the race and didn't suffer much damage.

  16. Postpublished at 15:12 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2022

    Kevin Magnussen is under pressure from George Russell and that forces a mistake from the Dane and that enables Russell to move ahead.

    It's been a good recovery drive so far from the Briton in his first season as a full-time Mercedes driver.

  17. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 15:11 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2022

    #bbcf1

    Andrew Priestley: Encouraging early signs that the new car designs are allowing cars to follow more closely in race conditions.

    quixoticgeek: I did not have Merc and Haas going wheel to wheel on my 2022 bingo card. Wow.

  18. Postpublished at 15:10 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2022

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

    The soft tyre working much better on that opening lap compared with the medium - not a good start from McLaren.

    It already looks to me that Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen are just going to sneak away from the rest of the pack, leaving Carlos Sainz, Lewis Hamilton, Kevin Magnussen and Sergio Perez to fight for the remaining places in the top six.

  19. Postpublished at Lap 4/57

    Job one done for Charles Leclerc as he held off Max Verstappen's early attack on the first lap.

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  20. Postpublished at 15:09 Greenwich Mean Time 20 March 2022

    McLaren were the only two to start on the mediums and they're playing the long game, but it's been a horror start for them. Norris down from 13th to 18th, Ricciardo from 18th to 20th and last.