Mercedes finishes 1-2 for the second time in 2019 as Leclerc’s Ferrari experienced a turbo failure.
SAKIR, Bahrain- March 30th—It seemed like it would be a certainty–a maiden victory for Charles Leclerc Sunday night at the Grand Prix of Bahrain at the Sakir International Circuit. But with nine laps to go in the race, the pilot from Monaco suffered a turbo failure, giving the race to Lewis Hamilton, who went on to win by 2.9 seconds over teammate Valtteri Bottas.
The win gave another Mercedes 1-2 for the season. Leclerc had some consolation at least, thanks to a last-minute safety car, which placed him third.
The win by Hamilton now puts the Briton one point behind Bottas in the championship after two races. For Hamilton, it was his 74th grand prix victory–but a win he was not expecting.
“It was a really hard job this weekend. The Ferraris were incredible,” Hamilton observed. “Charles (Leclerc) did such a great job–but I am not sure as he had a devastating result. We were definitely lucky today and we have to take it as it comes. I still gave everything in the race and did the best I could. But battling with Sebastian (Vettel), it was great fun. It was a great result for the team considering how the race was.”
Hamilton and Leclerc meet after the race (photo, New Haven Register)
Hamilton got off to a bad start, losing position to Bottas and both Ferraris. Leclerc slotted behind Vettel and was behind him for the first few laps of the race–until lap six when Leclerc passed the German down the front straight for the lead. The Monegasque continued to increase his gap by nine seconds over Vettel halfway through the race.
But while Leclerc was easily pulling away, Vettel encountered a battle with Hamilton and spun, which also put too much strain on his front wing. As Vettel regained his position on the track, his front wing disintegrated, causing him to lose more position and come into the pits.
But luck was not on Ferrari’s side with nine laps to go. Leclerc was complaining of lost power and was passed by Hamilton on lap 48.
Bottas followed laps later, but Leclerc finally found some luck as both Renaults of Daniel Ricciardo and Nico Hulkenberg ad mechanical problems and pulled off the circuit, setting up a safety car period, which lasted to the final lap. That circumstance gave Hamilton an easy victory.
It was the eighth time in Formula 1 history that a race finished in this way.
Leclerc was disappointed, but lucky, that the race ended up this way, which was just enough to get him onto the podium.
“It happens, it is part of motorsport.” Leclerc said. “Unfortunately, today was not our day, but I am confident. The team did an amazing job from the lack of pace in Australia. What to say? I am extremely disappointed like the whole team, but it happens in the season. We made the most of it. We have been lucky in a very unlucky situation because we had the safety car in the end. Otherwise, we would have finished rearwards. We would not have been OK with the fuel.”
Max Verstappen was hoping that the safety car would never have come out. The Dutchman could have caught Leclerc but came up short to finish fourth. Vettel ended up fifth, while Lando Norris gave McLaren an impressive sixth place in the McLaren–becoming the only Renault engine that survived the race.
Alfa Romeo driver Kimi Raikkonen took seventh with Pierre Gasly finishing eighth in his Red Bull. Alexander Albon took his first points in his rookie season in ninth, while Sergio Perez finished in tenth.
Of the retirements (besides the two Renault drivers) Carlos Sainz Jr. retired the car for the second time in a row with Renault power unit troubles. Romain Grosjean was a victim in his Haas with a broken back suspension after a first lap collision with Lance Stroll.
The next race is in China and it will be the sport’s one-thousandth grand prix. That race will take place in two weeks at Shanghai International Circuit, Jiading, Shanghai.
