BEIJING -- Charles Leclerc began Formula 1's new era with victory as Ferrari took a 1-2 in Sunday's season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, with both Red Bulls dramatically retiring in the closing stages.

Alfa Romeo's Zhou Guanyu had already made history by becoming the first Chinese driver to take part in a Grand Prix, and now joins a select band of 66 drivers to have scored points in their debut race.

The Shanghai native took the final point in tenth place on his Grand Prix debut, in which he notably overtook Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton for position as the Briton struggled on cold tyres after his first pit stop.

Starting from pole position, Leclerc withstood immense pressure from Red Bull's Max Verstappen after their first pit stops, with the two swapping positions on consecutive laps, but Leclerc was just able to keep the Dutchman at bay.