Bahrain Grand Prix 2019 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Lewis Hamilton won the Bahrain Grand Prix in heartbreaking fashion for Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who dominated the race from pole position only to suffer a devastating late-race power unit failure while comfortably leading. The young Monegasque driver had been in complete control, delivering a masterclass performance in just his second race for the Scuderia. Leclerc's commanding drive looked set to deliver his maiden Formula 1 victory before his SF90's engine lost power with 10 laps remaining, allowing Hamilton to inherit the lead and cruise to victory.

Leclerc had been imperious throughout, building a significant gap over the Mercedes drivers and setting the fastest lap. When his engine began losing power on the main straight, the Ferrari visibly slowed, dropping from first to third as both Hamilton and teammate Valtteri Bottas swept past. Despite the heartbreak, Leclerc managed to nurse his ailing car home in third place, securing his first F1 podium finish. The cruel late-race drama denied Ferrari what would have been their first victory since the 2018 United States Grand Prix, extending their winless streak and raising questions about reliability issues that would plague their season.

Hamilton's opportunistic victory moved him into the championship lead, capitalizing on Ferrari's misfortune to extend Mercedes' perfect start to the season. Bottas finished second to complete another Silver Arrows one-two, though both drivers acknowledged Leclerc's superior pace throughout the weekend. The result demonstrated Ferrari's raw speed advantage in qualifying and race trim, but also highlighted the reliability and operational weaknesses that would prevent them from mounting a serious championship challenge. For Leclerc, the Bahrain heartbreak marked the first of several near-misses before he would finally secure his maiden win later in the season.