International media lyrical | 'Leclerc tames the beast Verstappen'

Gazzetta dello Sport

Where else but to start in Italy. For years the Italians have had to wait for a competitive car from Ferrari, but in 2022 Mattia Binotto's team looks like the best of the class at the start of the year. ''Finally, Ferrari, finally the red has returned,'' reads the pink sports newspaper. ''As in all fairy tales, it was the prince who broke the curse'', refers Gazzetta dello Sport to the victory of 'crown prince' Leclerc.

''It's a triumph that wipes away two years of technical weakness, suffering, criticism, jokes and even caricatures on TV. At the start of the new technical era, with completely new cars, Ferrari was ready for it: a victory in the first race and an unforgettable double.''

Corriere della Sera

''We're staying in Italy, because where else can you find the most beautiful headlines on Monday mornings. They have had to wait years for this and so also headlines Corriere della Sera with ''the resurrection of Ferrari.'' According to the other Italian sports newspaper, Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc are finally capable of winning the world title in 2022 and that gives the Tifosi hope.

Sky Sports

No British team or British driver on the top step of the podium, but also in England there is a lot of praise for Ferrari. Sky Sports speaks of a ''brilliant victory'' for Leclerc, while Max Verstappen is unlucky with a late retirement. ''The heart attack for Red Bull wasn't over after Verstappen's retirement, as Perez dropped out with a similar problem.''

Bild

''Right before the end, a drama for Verstappen,'' the German Bild after the Bahrain Grand Prix. Bild also talks about the wheel-to-wheel fight between Leclerc and Verstappen, where the Monegasque held his own handsomely against the reigning world champion. ''Ferrari has set the tone.''

Marca

The title of the Spanish Marca says it all: ''Red Bull is sinking''. To continue: ''The world champion's car already had steering problems and then fell off the cliff completely. It was a cinematic end to the start of the 2022 F1 season.''

On the other hand, from Spain there was also praise for Ferrari and Leclerc. ''Charles tamed the beast Verstappen,'' the report said of the duel between the two superstars from Ferrari and Red Bull Racing. ''Max overtook Leclerc five times, but the Monegasque passed him back just as many times. It was an epic battle that tastes like more.''