P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Charles Leclerc burst onto the wider F1 scene with a stunning performance at the 2019 Bahrain Grand Prix – only to be cruelly denied.
The 2019 Bahrain Grand Prix marked the 23rd F1 race for Charles Leclerc, who had just moved to Ferrari from Kimi Raikkonen. With a promising junior career, Leclerc was seen as Ferrari’s next big talent and the first Ferrari Driver Academy graduate in F1. The SF-90 was expected to do well, but Ferrari underperformed in Australia, with Mercedes dominating. However, in Bahrain, Leclerc stunned by taking his first career pole position and showed remarkable pace during the race. Despite encountering engine problems late in the race, he managed to secure his first podium, a memorable achievement. Leclerc had to wait until the Belgian GP for his first F1 win, a bittersweet victory coming the day after his friend Anthoine Hubert tragically lost his life in an F2 race.
