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Charles Leclerc on the way to victory
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Clive Mason/Getty Images
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc has won the Formula 1 season opener in Bahrain.
In a gripping final phase on Sunday, the Monegasque relegated his team-mate Carlos Sainz to second place.
World champion Max Verstappen had to park his Red Bull after a defect three laps before the end.
Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton was third.
The international press writes about this:
Great Britain
»Guardian«: »The new era of Formula 1 could not have asked for a more compelling start than the drama, triumph and disaster of the season opener in Bahrain.«
Daily Mail: Karma.
Five letters that stand for luck or bad luck and are seen as the result of one's actions.
And so it was that eleven laps before the end of the first race of the season, a safety car came on the scene, just like that unforgettable event 98 nights earlier when Lewis Hamilton was denied his eighth world title.
What irony.«
»Daily Mirror«: »Lewis Hamilton rubs salt in Verstappen's wounds.
Hamilton explained that after his surprise third place finish at the Bahrain Grand Prix, there was no better feeling."
Spain
»AS«: »Ferrari overthrows the champion.
Strong doubles with Leclerc winning and Sainz second.
Verstappen fought for the win but his steering wheel broke.
Alonso, tenth.
Red Bull, zero points.«
"Mundo Deportivo": "Ferrari starts with a double victory.
The new era of Formula 1 starts in the best way for the Italians.
Verstappen became a tragic figure, Red Bull experienced a Waterloo.
Ferrari, Leclerc and Sainz underlined that they want the title - the car is ready for it anyway.
This first race promises an exciting season.«
»Sport«: »The Scuderia is having a party in Bahrain.
It's the year of the Ferrari revenge.«
Italy
»La Repubblica«: »But here they are again: they came to the desert to win, (...), they stayed true to their strength, which was already evident in the pre-season tests and also in the qualification .
The double whammy increases the size of the Reds (of the Ferrari racing team).”
»La Gazzetta dello Sport«: »Leclerc first, Sainz second: Ferrari is back.
Red euphoria.
This is not a mirage in the desert.
It's all true.
(...) The new era of Formula 1 begins in Bahrain with a rousing triumph.
(...) Two years in purgatory to be able to see the stars again.
Ferrari rose from the rubble of 2020 when sixth place in the Constructors' Championship was its worst result since 1980."
»Corriere della Sera«: »Red resurrection.
One and two for Leclerc and Sainz, Ferrari returns to its former glory.
(...) It's the Ferrari New Year, the celebration of liberation after the black ribbon of 45 Grands Prix without a win.
(...) It ends deep injuries, seasons of humiliation, fighting for a few occasional podiums in stages.«
»La Stampa«: »Welcome back, Ferrari!
While the bells are ringing in Maranello, fireworks explode in Sakhir.
Beyond every forecast and every hope, Ferrari has proven its competitiveness.
Leclerc shows what the season can still be for Ferrari.
Sainz is the co-protagonist of the race, but he has the talent to become a star.«
Switzerland
»Blick«: »Exuberant Ferrari celebrations in Bahrain.
It's worked out.
The first victory since September 22, 2019 (Vettel in Singapore) is a fact.
The long suffering of the Scuderia is over.«
Austria
»Kronenzeitung«: »Ferrari has reported back impressively, for Red Bull and world champion Max Verstappen, however, the start of the World Cup ended in disaster.«
jan/dpa/sid