Charles Leclerc wins Bahrain Grand Prix

Charles Leclerc scored a landslide victory with Ferrari in the dramatic opening of the season at the Bahrain Grand Prix after winning a close fight with Red Bull's Max Verstappen.

Leclerc and Verstappen rolled out thrilling wheel-to-wheel dice after the first pit stop, swapping places five times in two laps before Leclerc moved forward. The final laps were full of dramas that forced Verstappen to retire due to safety car duration and reliability issues, pushing Carlos Sainz to second place. 

Sergio Perez's second Red Bull suffered a failure in the first corner of the final lap, with Lewis Hamilton taking the final podium of Mercedes.

Hamilton looked set for fifth place as Mercedes’ pace problems became ever clearer during the race but Red Bull’s nightmare provided the seven-time champion with an unexpected boost. 

Leclerc's victory was top drawer and emphasized his qualities as one of the leading lights of the new generation and if Ferrari can stay competitive throughout this long 23-race season, he will be a serious candidate for the championship.

The new rules introduced this year aimed at closing the field and facilitating overtaking certainly mix the pack, with Mercedes and McLaren being the biggest losers, Ferrari and Haas winning the most. 

However, the race did not provide sufficient evidence for a definitive conclusion as to whether their main intent was successful or not.