Bahrain Grand Prix LIVE: Latest F1 updates as Charles Leclerc loses victory to Lewis Hamilton after late drama

Follow the latest from the Bahrain Grand Prix

Formula One: 2019 season preview

Follow the latest updates live from the Bahrain Grand Prix as Charles Leclerc starts from pole position for the first time in his career.

The Ferrari new boy stunned teammate Sebastian Vettel on Saturday with a new lap record around the Bahrain International Circuit, leading a Ferrari one-two as they locked out the front row. That left Lewis Hamilton to contend with third place at a track that he has not won at for the last three years, and with both he and Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas off the pace, it could be a painful day for Mercedes.

Max Verstappen leads the best of the rest in his Red Bull, while McLaren got both their cars into Q3 for the first time since Malaysia 2017 in what could be a successful weekend for Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris. Follow the live action below.

When is it?

The Bahrain Grand Prix takes place across the weekend of 29-31 March, with the race itself on Sunday 31 March.

What time does it start?

Lights out is scheduled for 4:10pm BST (6:10pm local).

Where can I watch it?

The race will be shown live on Sky Sports F1 from 2:30pm. Highlights will be shown on Channel 4 from 9pm.

Sky Sports F1 will also be showing every practice session as well as qualifying live throughout the weekend.

Times

First practice: Friday 11am-12:30pm

Second practice: Friday 3pm-4.30pm

Third practice: Saturday 12pm-1pm

Qualifying: Saturday 3pm-4pm

Race: 4:10pm-6:10pm

Grid

1 Charles Leclerc (Mon) Ferrari 1min 27.866secs

2 Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Ferrari 1:28.160

3 Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) Mercedes GP 1:28.190

4 Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Mercedes GP 1:28.256

5 Max Verstappen (Ned) Red Bull 1:28.752

6 Kevin Magnussen (Den) Haas F1 1:28.757

7 Carlos Sainz (Spa) McLaren 1:28.813

8 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Alfa Romeo Racing 1:29.022

9 Lando Norris (Gbr) McLaren 1:29.043

10 Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) Renault 1:29.488

11 Romain Grosjean (Fra) Haas F1 1:29.015 + three-place grid penalty for blocking

12 Alexander Albon (Tha) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:29.513

13 Pierre Gasly (Fra) Red Bull 1:29.526

14 Sergio Perez (Mex) Racing Point 1:29.756

15 Daniil Kvyat (Rus) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:29.854

16 Antonio Giovinazzi (Ita) Alfa Romeo Racing 1:30.026

17 Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Renault 1:30.034

18 Lance Stroll (Can) Racing Point 1:30.217

19 George Russell (Gbr) Williams 1:31.759

20 Robert Kubica (Pol) Williams 1:31.799

Key Points

• Lewis Hamilton wins Bahrain Grand Prix
• Charles Leclerc loses eight-second lead due to engine issue
• Race finishes behind safety car to salvage third for Leclerc behind Baltteri Bottas
• Sebastian Vettell spins while fighting Hamilton and finishes fifth

[31 March 2019 16:12 · Jack de Menezes]

Leclerc brings the field round the final corner and takes his place in slot No 1 to begin the long wait for the rest of the field. Here we go...

[31 March 2019 16:13 · Jack de Menezes]

LIGHTS OUT! THE BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX IS UNDERWAY!

[31 March 2019 16:16 · Jack de Menezes]

Lap one: Vettel jumps Leclerc straight off the start as he wins the drag race off the line. Leclerc attempts to slot in behind, but through turn four the Mercedes of Bottas comes charging through and takes second. Hamilton tries to follow through, but the struggling Ferrari youngster just gets in front to shut the door and resume in third.

Behind, there's chaos. A damaged front wing for the Haas of Grosjean causes sparks to fly and cars to spread out to avoid what they think is a crash, and he pits at the end of the lap.

[31 March 2019 16:17 · Jack de Menezes]

Lap two: Here comes Leclerc! Bottas locks up going into turn one and it allows the pole-sitter to slide through and take second. Hamilton is straight onto Bottas' gearbox, and despite fighting for the place the reigning champion has the line and takes third. A huge error for Bottas, as it's not only cost hi two places but has also released the Ferraris out of the Mercedes grasps. At the end of the lap, they're already more than two seconds clear of Hamilton.

[31 March 2019 16:21 · Jack de Menezes]

Lap four: Disaster for McLaren! Sainz has a run at Verstappen, who is struggling, but the Dutchman fights to hold on for fifth and the two touch. Is there damage? Yes! Sainz is off and has a right-front puncture and front wing damage, and he plummets down the order on his way to the pits. Behind Verstappen, Magnussed, Ricciardo, Raikkonen and Hulkenberg are in an almighty fight, with Perez, Gasly and Norris all in close company.

[31 March 2019 16:22 · Jack de Menezes]

Lap five: 

1. Vettel

2. Leclerc

3. Hamilton

4. Bottas

5. Verstappen

6. Magnussen

7. Ricciardo

8. Raikkonen

9. Hulkenberg

10. Perez

[31 March 2019 16:23 · Jack de Menezes]

Lap six: Here comes Leclerc! he radios in that he believes he's faster than Vettel, and with silence on the airwaves he decides he's going for it. Vettel shows him the outside into turn one, and Leclerc duly takes it to sweep around the outside and take the lead! Vettel fights back, but it's no use and the pole-sitter is back into the lead.

[31 March 2019 16:25 · Jack de Menezes]

Lap seven: So Vettel has already fallen out of DRS range, trailing the leader by more than 1.4s, but the Mercedes of Hamilton is 3.2s off the lead and Bottas is a further 4s behind.

[31 March 2019 16:29 · Jack de Menezes]

Lap 10: This race is far from over folks. Hamilton is keeping the gap at just three seconds between the top three, and now thoughts of the undercut will come to mind. Perez, Albon, Gasly and Raikkonen all pit, and Mercedes will be looking at this as a chance to take at least Vettel on the undercut.

[31 March 2019 16:32 · Jack de Menezes]

Lap 11: Norris also pits and finds himself out in front of Magnussen, Albon and Gasly, which is great news for McLaren. Verstapped pits at the end of the lap, and that will be the signal for Mercedes and Ferrari to start thinking about their first stops.