Lewis Hamilton won a drama and incident-filled Bahrain GP after disaster struck for Ferrari, with Charles Leclerc losing a 10-second lead late in the race due to engine issues.
It was still a heartbreaking end to what had been a superb Grand Prix for Leclerc, who had managed much of the race magnificently from the front and would certainly have become the 108th winner in F1 history had the issue with his MGU-H not manifested.
It wasn’t to be for Leclerc and Ferrari as they appeared to be heading towards a much-needed 1-2 with the 21-year-old and Vettel running first and second with less than 20 laps remaining, but Mercedes stole an unexpected one-two and victory off their rivals.
The problems for Ferrari started when Sebastian Vettel spun while battling with Lewis Hamilton before dramatically losing his front wing down the back straight. He was left to fight back to fifth, behind the fourth-placed Red Bull of Max Verstappen.
It was then in lap 47 that Leclerc reported that there was something strange with the engine. Minutes later the dreaded diagnosis confirmed an MGU-H issue with the Ferrari’s turbocharger, and the effect on Leclerc’s pace was huge and immediate. He was a sitting duck by the time Hamilton blasted his way past, the reigning champion acknowledging his sympathy with Leclerc’s plight as he did so.
Leclerc was able to nurse the car to the finish, by which time Bottas had also caught and passed him. Verstappen looked certain to follow suit before the chequered flag, but instead, a late safety car was deployed following a bizarre synchronised double-Renault failure with both Ricciardo and Hulkenberg dramatically retiring on lap 55 with electrical and engine failures respectively.
It meant that Leclerc was able to cross the line in third place and pick up his first-ever F1 podium position in 23 Grand Prix starts. A success of sorts, and yet so much less than he had hoped for or deserved a point for fastest lap was hardly any greater compensation.
“Of course I’m extremely disappointed,” said Leclerc
“A very hard one to take.”
Hamilton, who now leads the F1 2019 championship, offered his commiserations to the Ferrari youngster, adding: “That was extremely unfortunate for Charles, he drove such a great race.”
