Lewis Hamilton claimed victory in the Bahrain Grand Prix after an engine problem hit runaway leader Charles Leclerc's Ferrari late in the race.

Leclerc had dominated after retaking the lead following a poor start and was on course for a maiden victory when his hybrid system failed.

Hamilton closed an eight-second deficit within three laps and swept by for his first win of 2019 with nine laps to go.

Leclerc would have slipped down to fourth behind Hamilton's team-mate Valtteri Bottas and Red Bull's Max Verstappen but was saved by a late race safety car.

As victory slipped from his fingers, the despair in Leclerc's voice was clear as he asked the team what had happened, and was told he had suffered a failure of the MGU-H, the part of the hybrid system that recovers energy from the turbo.

It cost him 40km/h on the straights and left him helpless as first Hamilton and then Bottas closed in at five seconds a lap.

"Oh my God," he said, as he saw a fairytale victory slip from his grasp on a weekend on which he had destroyed his four-time world champion team-mate Sebastian Vettel.

Vettel, meanwhile, made yet another high-profile error, spinning his car while being passed by Hamilton for what at the time was second place with 20 laps to go.

Vettel already needed a pit stop for fresh tyres, but he also suffered a front wing failure as he toured around to the pits, and the German finished fifth, two places behind his team-mate.

"That was extremely unfortunate for Charles," Hamilton said over the radio on his slowing down lap. "We have work to do to keep these guys on our tails."

It was a bitter blow for Leclerc, who thoroughly deserved the win, but the Monegasque had already done enough to announce himself as a major title contender.

He had started from pole position, but a poor start meant he dropped behind Vettel and Bottas on the first lap.

But he passed Bottas at the start of the second lap and then Vettel on lap four, around the outside of Turn Four, and proceeded to underline his superiority over Vettel by cruising off into a comfortable lead.

Until the Ferrari hit trouble in the closing laps, the race was all behind Leclerc, as Vettel and Hamilton swapped positions behind him.

Hamilton jumped Vettel at the first pit stops, but Mercedes's choice of soft tyres, while the Ferraris fitted mediums, left him struggling.

Vettel closed him down and passed for second on lap 24.

Hamilton felt he was in dire trouble, but he managed to keep Vettel in sight, so when both pitted for a final stint on mediums Hamilton was able to close on Vettel.

The world champion passed Vettel around the outside of Turn Four with 20 laps to go, and the German spun on the exit of the corner.

"Aargh," he said. "New tyres. Box."

It was another mistake that raised questions about Vettel's ability to race in high-pressure situations after a series of errors last year dashed his title hopes long before they should have died.

Vettel said he believed his front wing had failed because of the vibrations from his damaged tyres. Regardless, the dynamics within the Ferrari are now fascinating.

Vettel had started the season as their leader but Leclerc has now staked his claim and proved he will be a major force this season.

Former BMX and track cycling World Champion Shanaze Reade has been announced as the first West Midlands Cycling and Walking Ambassador.

The British cyclist’s appointment was confirmed on the day that regional transport chiefs agreed a £17 million funding package to take spending on cycling in the West Midlands to £10 per head per year up to April 2021.

The grant, from the region’s £71 million Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) transport package, will be invested in safe cycle routes across the West Midlands.

As Ambassador Shanaze, the three time BMX World Champion and twice Team Sprint track world champion, will promote and guide development of cycling throughout the West Midlands.

She welcomed the West Midlands commitment to increasing participation in cycling and walking and the increased funding for safe cycle routes and infrastructure.

She said: “I look forward to helping people discover the amazing benefits of cycling and walking – both for pleasure and as a convenient method of transport. The benefits are endless from saving money, the sense of freedom, mental wellbeing from the exercise and keeping fit. With the infrastructure being put in place there will be no excuse to get out those trainers or on your bike.”

One of her first duties as Ambassador will see Shanaze join Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street, transport bosses and cycling representatives at a summit on May 22.

Last month Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), adopted a new Walking and Cycling policy which outlined the ambition to develop a cycle route network across the region.

The WMCA Board has now approved the award of £17 million cycle funding. This follows the award of a £6 million TCF grant last October.

Combined with expected investment from councils and developers it means that spending on cycling in the West Midlands will reach the target of £10 per head.

Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street said: “Shanaze will make a brilliant Ambassador for cycling and walking. She has excelled on the track, is a superb role model and will inspire many young people here to get on their bikes.

“We set out to raise investment to £10 per head and are doing just that. In the West Midlands we are serious about cycling – it is fun and great for our health and as an alternative to the car can help ease traffic congestion and improve the quality of the air we breathe.”

The £23 million Transforming Cities Fund will be spent on cycling infrastructure. Last month the WMCA Board approved a new cycling and walking policy which outlined ambitions for a network of safe cycle routes across the region.

Councillor Ian Ward, leader of Birmingham City Council and WMCA portfolio holder for economic, said: "For decades the West Midlands has been associated the world over with motoring, but it's clear that we need to change the way people travel across the region. In addition to getting more people onto public transport, one of our key ambitions is to increase levels of cycling and walking.

"That's why, in recent years, we've launched innovative schemes to get people on their bikes. Through the Birmingham Cycle Revolution and initiatives like the award-winning Big Birmingham Bikes, we've focussed on education, training and of course promoting the many benefits of cycling.

"Now we're looking to build on that success and the creation of this new region-wide role underlines our determination to improve air quality, tackle congestion and improve the health of people across the region."

The appointment has been welcomed by the Department for Transport and British Cycling, the sport’s governing body.

Transport Minister Jesse Norman said: "Massive congratulations to Shanaze on her appointment as West Midlands Cycling and Walking Ambassador.

“And massive congratulations to TfWM for using our new Government grant money to build new cycling infrastructure, as part of a region-wide transport investment programme."

British Cycling chief executive, Julie Harrington, said: “Shanaze has always been a fantastic ambassador for our sport and I am sure she will be equally brilliant in her new role in the West Midlands.

“We are proud that our riders – both past and present – make such a valuable contribution to communities across Britain, and we look forward to watching Shanaze work with Mayor Andy Street to enable more local people to get around by bike in the coming years.”

The Cycling Summit, hosted by the Mayor and Shanaze, will be held in Birmingham and is open to members of the public and organisations. It will set out the mission to supercharge the development of cycling and walking across the West Midlands.

Arsenal first team players Mesut Ozil, Bernd Leno, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Shkodran Mustafi were treated to a tour of Dubai, visiting the city’s latest attractions and legendary landmarks, and taking in the striking architecture and impressive skyline.  The players were picked up on a hop on hop off City Sightseeing bus, making their first stop at the Dubai Frame. The players toured the spectacular structure, which boasts panoramic views of both old and new Dubai at 150 metres high.

The players stepped onto the glass bridge in the transparent viewing deck, and even showed off their fancy footwork to the delight and amazement of the other visitors at the Dubai Frame. Dubai’s latest architectural landmark is a giant rectangular frame situated in a unique location that offers views via its 93 metre bridge observatory.  The players then continued to Burj Khalifa, and also passed the Dubai Canal during their sightseeing tour.

Arsenal is set to play a friendly match with Al Nasr Sports Club at Al Maktoum Stadium on 26 March. The players are also taking part in warm weather training sessions, to prepare for the final weeks of the 2018/19 football season. Last week, the players arrived on a specially-branded Emirates A380 Arsenal aircraft, and the airline is supporting the visit by connecting football enthusiasts in the UAE with one of the game’s most iconic clubs.

The Special Olympics World Games, the world’s largest humanitarian sporting event and a global movement which focuses on the empowerment of people of determination with intellectual disabilities through the power of sport was held in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates - the first time in the Middle East North Africa since the movement’s founding over 50 years ago – with Pakistani sprinter, Syeda Kazim, one of the headline acts when she made her “dream come true” after winning bronze medal in the 200 meters division sprint race at the Dubai Police Officer’s Club.

“It was a dream come true for me,” she recalled. “I was extremely happy to be a part of the Special Olympics World Games, especially after bagging the bronze medal.

Winning a bronze medal at Special Olympics World Games Abu Dhabi 2019 was ‘like a dream coming true.”

Syeda, who lives in Karachi, trained for two hours each day to prepare for the World Games, travelling two hours from her home to Karachi’s National Stadium to use the running facilities.

Team GB cycling star Kiera Byland was another headline act, taking gold medal in her race – the 20-year-old athlete was first across the finish line in the women’s 15-kilometer Road Race final held at Yas Marina Circuit.

“I said to my teammates ‘I hope I do really well in my first race’ and then, obviously, I’ve done really good,” Kiera said. “I’ve done all the training and put the effort in with help from my coach and my family.

“I’d like to say thank you to everyone who supported me. I’m just so happy.”

More than 40,000 spectators at Zayed Sports City and millions of viewers worldwide celebrated the Special Olympics World Games with spectators witnessing the largest number of nations take part as every athlete showcase their sporting talent on a global stage; with a stellar line-up of world-renowned musicians  include Avril Lavigne, Paul Oakenfold And Hussain Al Jassmi amongst others.

Legendary stars; Ivory Coast’s Didier Drogba and Brazillian World Cup winner, Cafu, playing alongside Special Olympics footballers at the Unified Sports Clinic.

During, and post Games, initiatives are running daily in schools and community spaces across Abu Dhabi and the UAE to create unity and understanding between the public and people of determination with intellectual disabilities.

Arsenal first team players Mesut Ozil, Bernd Leno, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Shkodran Mustafi were treated to a tour of Dubai, visiting the city’s latest attractions and legendary landmarks, and taking in the striking architecture and impressive skyline.  The players were picked up on a hop on hop off City Sightseeing bus, making their first stop at the Dubai Frame. The players toured the spectacular structure, which boasts panoramic views of both old and new Dubai at 150 metres high.

The players stepped onto the glass bridge in the transparent viewing deck, and even showed off their fancy footwork to the delight and amazement of the other visitors at the Dubai Frame. Dubai’s latest architectural landmark is a giant rectangular frame situated in a unique location that offers views via its 93 metre bridge observatory.  The players then continued to Burj Khalifa, and also passed the Dubai Canal during their sightseeing tour.

Arsenal is set to play a friendly match with Al Nasr Sports Club at Al Maktoum Stadium on 26 March. The players are also taking part in warm weather training sessions, to prepare for the final weeks of the 2018/19 football season. Last week, the players arrived on a specially-branded Emirates A380 Arsenal aircraft, and the airline is supporting the visit by connecting football enthusiasts in the UAE with one of the game’s most iconic clubs.

A University of Wolverhampton web developer has his sights set on sprinting to success in an international triathlon championship competition.

Adam Jones, 29 from Stourbridge, is crowdfunding to help him take part in the age group triathlon competition at the Team GB Championship being held in Russia later this year.

The web developer, who works in the External Relations department at the University and also coaches young athletes in his spare time, competed in the 2018 European Championships in Glasgow and hopes to take part in Kasan, Russia, in July this year.

The ‘sprint’ triathlon competition is made up of three different sports – swimming (750 metres), running (5 kilometres) and cycling (20 kilometres).

He said:  “It felt amazing to represent our country in the championships last year and I’m hoping to do it all again.

“As an age group athlete you have to fund everything yourself – the kit, flights, accommodation and visas – so I thought that crowdfunding would be an ideal way of helping me achieve my goal.”

Adam will be creating a video diary so that funders can track his progress on his journey towards achieving his goal in Russia.