'Double disaster': Ferrari drivers wipe each other out in F1 chaos

Charles Leclerc has apologised to Ferrari and his teammate Sebastian Vettel after causing a first-lap collision that put both drivers out of the Styrian Formula One Grand Prix.

Both cars suffered damage and returned to the pits, with four-times world champion Vettel wheeled into the garage while Leclerc rejoined in last place after having a new front wing fitted.

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The Monegasque, whose car was tipped onto Vettel's after he tried a lunge down the inside of the German and hit a kerb in the turn three incident, retired on lap five.

The 22-year-old recognised he had been over-optimistic in his move.

"I apologised. Obviously, excuses are not enough in times like this," the youngster told Sky television.

"I am just disappointed in myself. I have done a very bad job today, I let the team down. I can only be sorry even though I know it's not enough. I hope I will learn from this and will come back stronger for the next races.

"But it's a tough time for the team. We don't need that. The team doesn't need that and I put all the efforts of the team in the bin. So I'm very sorry."

Ferrari, Formula One's oldest, most successful and glamorous team, are going through tough times with a car that lacks aerodynamic and engine performance compared to last year.

They had rushed through updates but team boss Mattia Binotto said on Saturday they had not shown the expected improvement.

Leclerc, a lucky second in last weekend's season-opener at the same Red Bull Ring circuit, started only 14th after a three-place grid drop for impeding AlphaTauri's Daniil Kvyat in qualifying.

Vettel had lined up 10th on the grid.

"I was fighting two other cars into turn three and then I was very surprised because I had the inside and wasn't expecting Charles to try something," said Vettel, who is leaving at the end of the season.

"I don't think there was any space," added the German.

"Obviously, a big pity, something that we should avoid but not much that I could have done differently. I was just taking it easy and conservative because it was already very busy at the hairpin, it's very tight."

Ferrari had hoped to use Formula One's first back-to-back races at the same circuit to compare data but that opportunity never emerged.

"For the updates we would really like to get the race on the line and some laps to see where the car is but unfortunately we will not get that," said Vettel.

Hamilton leads Mercedes one-two finish

Six-times world champion Lewis Hamilton dominated the Styrian Grand Prix, giving Mercedes a one-two finish to celebrate his 85th Formula One win and move a step closer to Michael Schumacher's record of 91 victories.

Finnish teammate Valtteri Bottas, winner of last weekend's season-opener that was also held without spectators at Austria's Red Bull Ring, finished 13.719 seconds behind, with his championship lead cut to six points.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen completed the podium, more than half a minute behind Hamilton, on a sunny afternoon at his team's home track.

Hamilton's victory, something of a cruise past the empty grandstands, was his first since Abu Dhabi in November and extended his record run of successive points finishes to 35 races.

When Hamilton stood on the podium he raised a clenched fist in a Black Power salute.

"What a weird year it is, but it's great to be back up here, to be driving with this kind of performance," said Hamilton, who started from his 89th pole position.

"I'm so grateful to be back in first place. It feels like a long time coming since the last race last year, and to come back in after a difficult weekend last week is a great, great step forwards."