LUCKY for some, extremely unlucky for others: the Bahrain Grand Prix was a shocker, especially for Ferrari and Renault.

Monacoโ€™s young Charles Leclerc seemed certain of a runaway win – until 10 laps before the end when his Ferrari suddenly lost power, as did both of the Renaults.

While Leclerc managed to hang on to third place for Ferrari, electrical problems forced Nico Hulkenberg and Daniel Ricciardo to park their Renaults.

Both cars were in the points at the time, Hulkenberg in sixth place and Ricciardo 10th.

Leclercโ€™s misfortune allowed the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas to sweep past for their second one-two result of the season, while Sebastien Vettel, who was running close behind his young teammate for most of the race, managed to spin his Ferrari after a tussle with Hamilton, and finished a distant fifth, behind Max Verstappenโ€™s Red Bull.

Not a great day for Ferrari, which dominated the qualifying session and was on course for a long overdue win.

Nineteen-year-old Brit Lando Norris put in a great drive to end up sixth for McLaren with Kimi Raikkonen seventh, ahead of Pierre Gaslyโ€™s Red Bull.

It could have been a fifth and sixth for McLaren, but Carlos Sainz had to retire early after a collision with Verstappenโ€™s Red Bull, ending the fiery Spaniardโ€™s promising drive.

Ninth and 10th went to Thai driver Alexander Albon in the Toro Rosso and Sergio Pรฉrez in the Racing Point, (formerly known as Force India).

Renault showed great pace, with Hulkenberg scorching from 17th to sixth and just a few laps left to go when the electrical gremlin struck.

He and Daniel Riccardo suffered problems at the same time and Ricciardo raised stewardsโ€™ interest when he climbed out without removing the carโ€™s steering wheel, as demanded by FIA.

But he explained: “I had the ‘red’ light on so I couldn’t touch the car.

โ€œI wasn’t taking any risks. I didn’t really feel like getting electrocuted today.”

He started from 11th and was running a different strategy to most of the drivers, opting for a single pitstop plan rather than a two-stopper.

Daniel Ricciardo had to park his Renault after suffering an electrical malfunction.Vs

It cost him dearly, slipping him from sixth and hanging on for 10th as rivals with fresher tyres sailed past.

He later said it was the wrong strategy and that the team had left it too late to change โ€“ not that it mattered after the electrical failure.

It was a particularly hard result for Ferrariโ€™s Leclerc had a 10-second lead in the closing laps and suddenly radioed: โ€œThere is something strange with the engineโ€ followed by an expletive.

However, winner Hamilton consoled him on the podium, saying โ€œit was extremely unfortunate for Charles. He drove such a great race.โ€

Next Grand Prix is in China, on April 14.ย 

RESULTSย 

  1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1hr 34min 21.836 secย 
  2. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes) at 2.980ย 
  3. Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) 6.131ย 
  4. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull-Honda) 6.408ย 
  5. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) 36.068ย 
  6. Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Renault) 45.754ย 
  7. Kimi Rรคikkรถnen (FIN/Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari) 47.470ย 
  8. Pierre Gasly (FRA/Red Bull-Honda) 58.094ย 
  9. AlexanderAlbon (THA/Toro Rosso-Honda) 1:02.697ย 
  10. Sergio Pรฉrez (MEX/Racing Point-Mercedes) 1:03.696ย 
  11. Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA/AlfaRomeo Racing-Ferrari) 1:04.599ย 
  12. Daniil Kvyat (RUS/Toro Rosso-Honda) 1 lapย 
  13. Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas-Ferrari) 1 lapย 
  14. Lance Stroll (CAN/Racing Point-Mercedes) 1 lapย 
  15. George Russell (GBR/Williams-Mercedes) 1 lapย 
  16. Robert Kubica (POL/Williams-Mercedes) 2 lapsย 

Retirements: Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas-Ferrari), Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/McLaren-Renault), Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Renault), NicoHรผlkenberg (GER/Renault)