(CNN)Charles Leclerc won the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday as Ferrari clinched a one-two after a dramatic end to the first race of the new season.
After an impressive qualifying, Leclerc started from pole position and seemed to be heading towards victory after a duel with reigning world champion Max Verstappen.
Until a safety car was deployed in the final phase, bringing the pack together for the restart.
Under the new regulations, all cars could lap themselves before racing resumed – a rule clarified after the dramatic end of last year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where Lewis Hamilton lost the title on the last lap.
In Bahrain, Leclerc retained the lead after the restart with Verstappen hot on his heels, but the Red Bull driver – who was already complaining of a steering problem with his car – retired entirely after apparently losing strength lost.
The Dutchman was furious and could hear his team berating over the radio as Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz passed him for second place.
Things went from bad to worse for Red Bull when shortly afterwards the team’s other driver, Sergio Perez, who was in third place, also began struggling with his car, allowing Hamilton to claim an unlikely podium finish on the final lap.
It was a great result for Mercedes as the team was still struggling to perfect the car – fellow driver George Russell was fourth.
But for Ferrari, who hadn’t won a race since September 2019, the season couldn’t have started better.
“I’m so happy. We knew this was a great opportunity for the team and the guys did an incredible job building this amazing car,” said Leclerc.
“A one-two with Carlos today – we couldn’t have hoped for better. It’s incredible to be back at the top.”
Since 1983, F1 has not made such sweeping changes to the design of the cars.
It was hoped the new regulations would make overtaking easier and it certainly appeared to be the case as Leclerc and Verstappen swapped places five times in just two laps in the early stages.
But it was once again the safety car that caused the most drama – only this time Hamilton benefited over Red Bull.
As revealed by the Federation Internationale De l’Automobile (FIA), the controversial season finale at the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was the result of a “human error” by then-race director Michael Masi.
On Saturday, the investigative report was submitted to the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council, which concluded that the results of the title decision were “valid, final and now irreversible”.
Hamilton had almost won his record-breaking eighth world title over eventual winner Verstappen when Williams Racing’s Nicholas Latifi crashed into the barriers with four laps to go, resulting in the safety car being called.
The controversy reached its climax when a message from the race official first said lapped cars between Hamilton and Verstappen would not be allowed to lap themselves – only for Masi to appear to change his mind shortly after – leaving the Red Bull driver just behind Hamilton with fresh tires and only one lap left.
Masi’s decision meant the race would be restarted on the final lap, with Verstappen allowed to start almost alongside Hamilton, despite the Briton having built up a healthy lead.
The FIA investigation concluded that Masi acted in good faith; However, in February he was removed as F1 race director.
CNN’s Homero DeLaFuente contributed coverage.
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