The Red Bull team principal, Christian Horner, described the failure of both his cars in the final stages of the Bahrain Grand Prix as his team’s “worst nightmare”. Ferrari claimed a one-two victory with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz at Formula One’s season-opening race.
The reigning world champion, Max Verstappen, who had been on for second place, failed to score, as did his Red Bull teammate Sergio Pérez. Verstappen was left angry with his team, while their retirements allowed Lewis Hamilton to capitalise with an unlikely third place for Mercedes. The extra points he scored, he noted, might be vital in a long, 23-race season.
