Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc has won the Formula 1 season opener in Bahrain.

In a gripping final phase, the Monegasque relegated his team-mate Carlos Sainz to second place.

World champion Max Verstappen had to park his Red Bull in the garage three laps before the end of the race after a defect.

Leclerc celebrated his third Grand Prix win overall on Sunday.

For Ferrari it was the first Formula 1 victory since Sebastian Vettel's 2019 triumph in Singapore 910 days ago.

Record world champion Lewis Hamilton benefited from a spin by Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull on the last lap and happily raced to third place in the Mercedes.

Mick Schumacher im Haas did not get past eleventh place after a collision with Alpine driver Esteban Ocon.

Nico Hülkenberg, the substitute at Aston Martin for Sebastian Vettel, who was suffering from corona, finished 17th in his first Grand Prix appearance in 17 months.