Formula 1: Charles Leclerc joked with Ferrari engineers during the last lap in Bahrain Grand Prix: The season opener of this year’s Formula 1 saw Charles Leclerc win the Bahrain Grand Prix. It was a 1-2 finish for Ferrari since 2019. Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc had some fun with the Ferrari engineers during the last lap of the race. Follow Formula 1 Live Updates on InsideSport.IN
When Charles Leclerc approached turn 13 on the final lap, he gave a cheeky radio message to his team. He had bad memories of his retirement in 2019 which was still in the head of his team.
Formula 1: Charles Leclerc joked with Ferrari engineers about last lap engine problem and later secured a brilliant win at Bahrain Grand Prix
Charles said, “I did a bit of a joke on the radio on the last lap, saying that there was something strange with the engine. It gave a heart attack to some of the engineers I’m sure, but everything was fine. So yeah, very happy that this time we brought it home.”
LET’S GOOOOO!!!! First win of the season ❤️
So incredibly proud of the whole team for the incredible work produced to get us back to this level. It is only the beginning, it’s now time to work harder than ever to stay there 👊 @ScuderiaFerrari pic.twitter.com/OcXcoX54KN— Charles Leclerc (@Charles_Leclerc) March 20, 2022
The conversation went like, Leclerc: “Something strange with the engine.”
Engineer: “Copy.”
Leclerc: “I’m Joking.”
Engineer: “Understood. We have double yellow on the main straight. Sergio Perez has stopped at Turn 1.”
Charles Leclerc had outperformed everybody in qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix 2022 race. He led the race from the start and held off a mid-race attack by the reigning champion Max Verstappen. Charles then started to edge clear at the front and widened the gap between him and Verstappen.
Formula 1: Max Verstappen tries to overtake the race leader Charles Leclerc on Turn 1 in the Bahrain Grand Prix.Formula 1: Charles Leclerc joked with Ferrari engineers about last lap engine problem and later secured a brilliant win at Bahrain Grand Prix
The Monegasque driver then made a perfect restart from a late safety car period. It happened due to a fire breakout in Pierre Gasly’s car. Pierre was the first driver who bowed his way out of the race. Charles again saw the opportunity to widen the gap at the front.
Max Verstappen was the second racer to have bowed out of the race. It was a fuel pump failure for the Dutch driver, who was forced to retire in the pits. It was at that point that Leclerc’s victory was all guaranteed. He was leading the race as his teammate Carlos Sainz was behind him in P2.
Back in 2019, Charles Leclerc was leading the Bahrain Grand Prix and was cruising in the lead. But, with just 10 laps remaining he all of a sudden lost his engine performance. It was a cylinder cut out which saw Leclerc’s pace drop dramatically. He was caught by Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas as Leclerc finished third.
Formula 1: Charles Leclerc joked with Ferrari engineers about last lap engine problem and later secured a brilliant win at Bahrain Grand Prix