LEWIS HAMILTON held off a late Max Verstappen charge to open the F1 season with a thrilling win in Bahrain.
The two drivers were locked in a terrific cat and mouse chase throughout as seven-time world champion Hamilton won the first race of the season for the first time since 2015.
Hamilton, who broke Michael Schumacher’s record of leading for 5112 laps, went wide on lap 51 giving Verstappen the opportunity to close the gap.
The Dutchman did overtake him but was forced to give the position back as he went off the track.
There was less than a second between them on the final lap but Verstappen didn’t have the pace to pull off a stunning overtake.
Valtteri Bottas’ hopes of a win were over when Mercedes endured a disastrous 10-second pit-stop.
Just as it was in Bahrain last season, Bottas’ right front tyre wouldn’t come loose and he was forced to take third place.
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Another all-time record has been broken by @LewisHamilton
He's now led for more laps in his career than any other driver in F1 history
#BahrainGP
#F1 pic.twitter.com/G99rP6RIz4
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 28, 2021
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