Red Bull’s consecutive triple world champion Sebastian Vettel, starting second on the grid, opened up a clear lead at the top of the Formula 1 points table with an emphatic win in the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Australian Mark Webber celebrated his 200th Formula 1 Grand Prix start. Webber’s record since his debut in 2002 has been impressive, with nine wins, 11 pole positions, 35 podium finishes and 14 fastest laps, but two weeks ago he could only manage seventh place behind Lewis Hamilton.
Starting second behind the pole sitter Nico Rosberg (Mercedes), Vettel took the lead on lap three and ran a methodical race in the hot desert conditions, taking victory from the two team Lotus drivers, Kimi Raikkonen second and Romain Grosjean third in a repeat of last year’s finishing order.
It was Vettel’s second win in four races this year and the 28th of his career, moving him into sixth position on the all-time list of grand prix wins, taking him past Jackie Stewart.
Lewis Hamilton finished fifth for Mercedes after a late battle with Mark Webber, while Mexican Sergio Perez barged his way to sixth for McLaren. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) was eighth ahead of Nico Rosberg in the second Mercedes, while Jenson Button finished 10th for McLaren.