Live: Follow the Bahrain GP as it happens

By: Jake Boxall-Legge, Haydn Cobb, Tom Howard

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Leclerc, Ferrari
Sainz, Ferrari
Hamilton, Mercedes
Russell, Mercedes
Magnussen, Haas
Bottas, Alfa Romeo
Ocon, Alpine
Tsunoda, AlphaTauri
Alonso, Alpine
Zhou, Alfa Romeo

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix begins at 6pm local time (3pm GMT)
Leclerc begins on pole from Verstappen, Sainz
Leclerc leads Verstappen at the end of the opening lap, Hamilton and Magnussen pass Perez for P4 and P5 respectively. Perez recovers to P5 on Lap 2/57
Ocon (Alpine) picks up a five-second penalty for causing a collision with Mick Schumacher (Haas)
Perez recovers to P4 by passing Hamilton on lap 10/57
After first round of pit stops, Leclerc leads Verstappen, the two tussle for the lead, swapping positions.
Leclerc continues to lead Verstappen after second round of stops on lap 35/57
Red Bull opt for a late three-stop strategy, Sainz, Hamilton react
Safety Car lap 46/57 - Gasly's AlphaTauri stops, car catches fire, leader Leclerc pits
Verstappen retires due to a mechanical issue with four laps remaining
Perez spins out of the race from third on the penultimate lap.
Leclerc wins the Bahrain Grand Prix. Sainz claims P2 for a Ferrari 1-2. Hamilton third for Mercedes, Russell fourth.
Points for Magnussen, Bottas, Ocon, Tsunoda, Alonso and Zhou

Status: Stopped

19:04 And that's all from us today - thanks so much for joining us, and stick with us for all the round up and reaction. We'll see you next week for the Saudi Arabian GP at Jeddah.

19:03 Here's the report from a great start to the 2022 season: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f1-bahrain-gp-leclerc-leads-ferrari-1-2-red-bull-challenge-implodes/9167868/

18:57 Win #3 for Charles Leclerc - and the double dose of the Monegasque and Italian national anthems. Could you ask for a jollier duo of anthems?

18:52 Hamilton: "Firstly, a big congratulations to Ferrari, happy to see them doing well again! I think it was such a difficult race, we struggled throughout practice, but we did the best we could."

18:51 Sainz: "First of all, congrats to Charles and congrats to Ferrari - Ferrari is back! For me, it's been a tricky weekend, I'm not going to lie. I've got some homework to do over the next few days, but we'll come back stronger."

18:49 Leclerc: "Again, I keep repeating myself but the past two years have been incredibly difficult for the team. It was a huge opportunity for the team - we couldn't hope for better."

18:48 That's a very happy Ferrari team - great to see after a sparse couple of years for the team. Meanwhile, big inquest to go on in the newly-formed Red Bull Powertrains division, as three RBPT-powered cars end the day early.

18:44 Ferrari hasn't won since the 2019 Singapore Grand Prix - that was a 1-2 then, too. Big return for the Scuderia - a statement of intent.

18:43

18:43 Bottas takes sixth in his first Alfa Romeo race, ahead of Ocon, Tsunoda, Alonso, and rookie Zhou takes home 10th on his debut.

18:42 Lewis Hamilton bags third ahead of George Russell, as Kevin Magnussen bags some sweet points for Haas in fifth!

18:42 But after all of that, it's victory for Charles Leclerc - and Carlos Sainz Jr completes the Ferrari 1-2!

18:41 Hamilton bangs on the DRS, right on Perez's tail - and Perez spins at Turn 1! His rear just locked - and that's it! Both Red Bulls done - and Hamilton up to third!

18:39 "I'm losing power!" says Perez - he's struggling too! Huge powertrain problems - he's being gee'd up by engineer Hugh Bird to get the car to the finish.

18:38 Verstappen's retirement has, obviously, promoted everyone behind up a spot, so it means Alonso is into the final points place.

18:38 Hamilton's gunning for a podium here now, as he's all over Perez's tail. Russell's staying close too.

18:37 "We can see the issue Max, it's not battery related - there's not a lot we can do." He's pitting - day done for Verstappen!

18:36 Sainz grabs DRS second time around, however, and stays close on the infield section. Verstappen is effing and blinding over his battery, as Sainz dives past Verstappen at Turn 11 - it's Ferrari 1 and 2!

18:35 Zhou tucked up the inside of Schumacher at Turn 10 and with a better exit powered ahead into Turn 11 to take 12th place. Schumacher won't lose any further places because nobody is behind him as they were all the lapped cars.

18:35 Sainz has dropped out of DRS range of Verstappen as it's once again activated following the restart. Leclerc's lead, however, is continuing to grow once more at 2.9s at the start of lap 54. Four to go.

The 2022 Formula 1 season is underway with the opening race of the new campaign, the Bahrain Grand Prix.

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