F1 Bahrain Grand Prix LIVE RESULTS: Race UNDERWAY with Hamilton starting strongly – Stream, TV channel, latest

These two are trading blows

Almost a repeat on lap 18, as Verstappen gets the move done on turn one, but Leclerc is back in front by turn four.

This is epic stuff and has been a clean fight until now.

Tasty between Verstappen and Leclerc

And the Red Bull man goes wide and around Leclerc on the straight and gets ahead, sparks flying.

But Leclerc is not done. He’s back alongside and regains P1.

Hamilton radio

He said: “That was a really early stop.”

He was first to go for his tyres.

Lap 15 Verstappen stops for tyres

The Dutchman pits from second place. His stop takes 2.9 seconds.

Sainz also reacts and stops at the same time. His stop is quicker at 2.2 seconds.

Lap 12 Hamilton stops for tyres

It is an early stop for Hamilton. The change for hard tyres takes 3.4 seconds.

Remember, newer tyres this year on larger wheels, making a slower stop.

Also, those tyres are cooler than last year – less heat in the tyre blankets, he’s sliding all over the place.

Lap 11

Leclerc leads Verstappen by 3.1 seconds. Sainz is third, Perez is fourth. It is Ferrari, Red Bull, Ferrari, Red Bull.

Perez passes Hamilton

That was a clean overtake on lap 10. The Red Bull breezed past the Brit.

Ocon gets a penalty

A five second penalty for the Alpine man for causing a collision with Schumacher. A slam dunk and easy one for the stewards.

Lap 6

Leclerc has a 1.750second advantage over Verstappen. Sainz and then Hamilton make up the top four. Perez in fifth.

Ocon and Schumacher make contact

The German is sent into a spin after being hit by the Frenchman’s Alpine. The stewards are looking at the incident.

Bottas has dropped EIGHT places

The Alfa Romeo man impressed on Saturday but has already sunk to 14th.

But it is a terrible start for McLaren

Daniel Ricciardo is LAST, Lando Norris has dropped to 16th. They have a lot of hard work to do this season after what was a positive Barcelona test.

Good start for Leclerc

He keeps his lea over Verstappen and Sainz. Hamilton is up to fourth.

Here we go, ready for the first race of 2022

The cars are off on their formation lap. Can Leclerc hang on to P1, or will Verstappen get off to a winning start?

Horner on Hamilton’s chances

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has refused to write off Hamilton’s chances going into the race.

Hamilton’s starting in fifth on the grid but Horner insists that the Brit can still be dangerous.

Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “Let’s not write him off in this race. He is going to be pumped coming into this so he remains someone we need to watch out for.”

Tick Tock

Lewis Hamilton is about to jump into his car ahead of the race.

The Brit took a second to wave to the fans in the stadium.

But once he gets in the car he’ll have to be focused to overturn his starting position in fifth spot.

Race debut

Chinese driver Zhou Guanyu starts his first-ever F1 race today for Alfa Romeo.

Guanya wriggled into Q2 at practice yesterday and starts on the grid in P15.

And he admits that it’s a crazy feeling to be on the grid for the first time in Bahrain.

Sainz’ looking forward to race

Carlos Sainz is feeling optimistic ahead of the race that begins in fifteen minutes.

And he’s happy with the weather too.

Speaking to Sky, he said: “Conditions have changed a bit.

“A bit warmer today. The wind has rotated a bit so the car feels a bit different.

“The car feels good all weekend and I need to see if I can translate the qualy pace into race pace.”

Magic Haas to happen

Haas driver Kevin Magnussen is still pinching himself after achieving seventh on the grid for today’s face.

He said: “It’s been a real roller coaster the last couple of weeks and everything that we went through in that two weeks to manage everything that had to be managed and actually get here and then drive the car, get a good feeling and get some hope.

“We had a suspicion that it might be quite good, then qualifying was another whole roller coaster in itself with the problems we had not being able to run more than once in Q2 and 3 and not even knowing if we could get out again in Q3 and all that.

“So getting P7 for tomorrow’s race, after all that, is really, really cool.”

Verstappen’s game plan

Max Verstappen is focused on the long game in today’s race.

Speaking to Sky Sports F1, the World Champion said: “We have to score points. We have a competitive car and will try to fight for the win. Let’s see how the race is going to go. I think will be very close.

“We need to play the long game. Last year the race was decided in the last few laps and probably will be the same again.

“So we have to stay focused and obviously try to attack.”

Not long left!

The cars have started to come onto the track as the race time gets closer.

There’s just half-hour left until the season opener in Bahrain gets underway.

Verstappen’s focused

Max Verstappen looked ready for business ahead of the race.

The Red Bull ace starts in second on the grid and seemed ready to handle business when snapped before the battle for the top spot begins.

A bit of Bahrain history

Hamilton should be feeling lucky going into the Bahrain GP.

As the BBC reported that the race has been won by a British or German over the past decade.

And Hamilton’s won it consecutively over the previous three years.

The Brit also cruised to victory in the region in 2013 and 2014 respectively.

Hamilton’s confident exterior

lewis Hamilton looked relaxed going into the Bahrain GP.

The Mercedes driver was pictured with a smirk on his face as he prepared for the race.

Despite starting on the grid in fifth – Hamilton looked like he doesn’t have a care in the world.

Bahrain GP line up.

Here’s a reminder of how the drivers will line up In Bahrain.

Leclerc starts in the top spot with Verstappen just behind.

Sainz begins in third and Perez is in fourth.

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton rounds off the top five.