Ferrari In The Driving Seat in Bahrain

The new Formula One season is finally underway, and what a first race to kick things off in Bahrain. Of course, all the talk in the run-up to the new campaign has been about Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton and the events that unfolded in Abu Dhabi. And the pair were hot topics again, but it was Ferrari who managed to steal the show.

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari’s number one driver for this term, started in pole, and he was engaged in a fraught battle with Red Bull’s Verstappen, but eventually, he won out to help secure a first race Ferrari one-two in dramatic scenes.

After Leclerc and Verstappen made their first pit stops, the duo was battling hard against each other, which saw them swap places a stunning five times over two laps before Monte Carlo born Leclerc moved into first place.

And, if you thought that was enough drama for one race, the final laps came loaded with more chaos, with Verstappen having to retire from the race due to reliability issues following a period behind the safety car. Of course, this was music to the ears of Leclerc and Ferrari.

It was also fantastic news for Ferrari’s second driver Carlos Sainz, who moved up into second place following Verstappen’s retirement from the race. While the Belgian having to pull out wasn’t ideal for Red Bull, they did have Sergio Perez in third, which was a positive, but their day just worsened.

On the first corner of the last lap, Perez suffered a failure, and he was out of the race too. It was a terrible day at the office, not only for defending champion Verstappen but also for the Red Bull team. They’re out to defend their crown, after all.

And, who should be in the right place at the right time to take advantage of Perez’s demise? Yes, you guessed it, Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton. Heading into the final lap, the odds were stacked against Hamilton making the podium, but he managed to secure third and take the respective points.

You could suggest it’s somewhat ironic that Hamilton has benefitted from Red Bull's misfortune after losing the title in a controversial fashion to Verstappen and Red Bull in the final race of last season. And it's sure to kick start the narrative of the pair going head to head this term.

All credit, however, must go to Leclerc and Ferrari after race day one. Not only did he manage to secure pole, but he went on to win the race after fending off current champion Verstappen by showing plenty of grit, determination and bravery.

There is work to do for Mercedes and Red Bull if they’re to dominate once again, and they will surely come to the fore sooner rather than later. But if Leclerc and Ferrari continue in this manner, they’ll be in the discussion at the end of the season.