But it was a tough start to the season for both Ferrari and Mercedes, as Charles Leclerc retired while running in third with an engine issue and both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell struggled for pace against the frontrunners.
Further back it was a nightmare Bahrain GP for McLaren, with Oscar Piastri suffering a gearbox and steering wheel problem on his F1 debut and Lando Norris hobbled to the finish a lap down due to a pressure leak with the engine pneumatics.
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