Vettel wins Bahrain GP, takes overall lead

Despite being on pole for the first time in his F1 career, Bottas’s Sunday did not begin well.

Hamilton then showed some good pace as he again overtook Bottas, and eventually managed to cut Vettel’s lead from 19 seconds to 5.8 seconds by lap 54.

Although the mechanical issue was not his fault, it was disappointing to see the Red Bull driver withdraw when sitting in fourth and looking like he could potentially fight for a podium place if his pace continued. When the five red lights went out, it was the Finnish driver who got off to a ideal start, pulling away from the chasing pack. Three seconds separated the top five drivers.

But moments later, the Dutchman’s brakes failed and he drifted across the track and into the wall, his race over.

Hamilton was handed a five-second penalty for a pit lane infringement which ultimately cost him dearly.

“That said, we are well aware we have a long road ahead and know that if we want to get to the most important finish-line of all, we can not stint on our commitment and focus for a second”.

“Then on the second stint it was a bit better initially”.

“The vehicle is very good in the race but not quick enough to match them in qualifying”.

As in Shanghai, just after Vettel had pitted, the Safety Car was deployed, thereby allowing Hamilton to pit also without risk.

If the Briton had sped up and waited behind Bottas, releasing Ricciardo to head into his garage, Hamilton could have found himself behind the Australian when he came out.

The former Williams driver duly obliged with Hamilton now in pursuit of Vettel and his lead.

Mr. Hamilton chased Mr. Vettel all the way to the finished but could not make up for a penalty he suffered earlier in the race.

Could Hamilton get to the end on his soft tyres? He took on his penalty, too, to leave him back in third. Bottas had 28.368 (6.2) seconds in the pit-lane while Hamilton had a 30.687 (6.4) seconds pit lane.

“Three races into the season, you don’t want to go there yet”. The win takes Vettel to 68 points, 7 points ahead of Lewis Hamilton.

Hamilton is current on 61 points in the drivers’ championship, seven behind Vettel, with Bottas in third place on 38 points.

And that sentiment is echoed up and down the paddock – even by Fernando Alonso, who left Ferrari a few years ago to join troubled McLaren-Honda.

“Over the years, nothing changes in terms of (how) I feel pain in my heart”, said the triple champion. “It is a long year. The Easter hunt was on, so I am really really happy”. Of course the disappointment is there.

“For me that decision from the team to request me to let him through wasn’t ideal; it didn’t feel good for me, personally”.

Bottas was frustrated to finish third.

“It’s a shame: the target today was a lot, lot higher”.

Alonso could be heard on the team radio complaining about the complete lack of power his vehicle had and eventually retired at the death of the race.