Formula 2: Leclerc wins in great style at Sakhir

Charles Leclerc had a fine performance and won the Sprint race of the FIA Formula 2 Championship season-opening weekend in Bahrain. This was a maiden win F2 victory for the reigning GP3 Series champion and Ferrari Academy driver.

Nobuharu Matsushita had to start from pole position but the Japanese driver of the ART Grand Prix team started from pitlane due to technical troubles. Luca Ghiotto took the lead at Turn 1 and was ahead of Alexander Albon and Charles Leclerc.

Just like in the Feature race on Saturday, Artem Markelov was flying around the circuit and soon he was on P3. At the same time, Leclerc tried to take the lead from Ghiotto and finally managed to do so on lap 8. Soon after, Markelov went in for the fresh tires and stayed out of the battle for victory.

Oliver Rowland (DAMS) had a fine F2 season-opening weekend

Meanwhile, Leclerc also pitted and soon he became the chase from the middle of the grid. The Monegasque of Prema Powerteam did a perfect job and finally, on the last lap, took the lead from Ghiotto and won the race with an advantage of 1.5s to Ghiotto. Oliver Rowland of DAMS completed the podium.