So, for the third time in four races this season it is Lewis Hamilton who leaves a grand prix circuit with a win and 25 world championship points.
He now leads the way in the drivers' standings by 27 points from team-mate Nico Rosberg, which by any measure is a very nice cushion to recline on in the three weeks before the next race in Barcelona.
Hamilton takes home the largest of the four trophies arrayed below, which bear more than a passing resemblance to the FA Cup it must be said.
But that's another live page altogether.
Thanks for being with us. We'll see you in Spain.
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Watch: Ecclestone speaks
Bernie Ecclestone's candid chat with Eddie Jordan provoked a response from many of you on Twitter earlier - and not a lot of it good.
If you missed the interview - or want to watch again - you can do so here.
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Brake issue was 'strange' - Rosberg
Speaking to BBC Sport, Nico Rosberg said: "It was very strange for my brakes to fail two laps from the end. I didn't even get a warning, it happened in the middle of my braking zone. I couldn't even see Kimi in my blind spot so maybe I could have defended into turn two so I had no idea where he was. After such an exciting race it was very disappointed. But that is the way it is and it is onwards and upwards and I am happy to have been able to pass the two Ferraris.
"After such a disappointing start I was in full attack mode, I had to fight, I saw Lewis getting away and had two red cars in between I went for it and it worked out."
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McLaren reserve driver Kevin Magnussen on Twitter: Good job to McLaren today. Getting close to points now. #stepbystep #BelieveInMcLarenHonda
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Hamilton employed 'failsafe' after brake problem
Lewis Hamilton has been speaking to BBC Sport: "I felt quite comfortable, didn't feel under too much pressure from Kimi. I was feeling good then the brakes went long and I thought I had a brake failure, but I think Nico had something similar. I remembered a failsafe and that reset it, but I didn't push the brakes too much after that."
On his plans before the next race in Barcelona: "I'm leaving in like half an hour or something, back to Monaco where I will spend a couple of days back at home and then I start work on Wednesday. I'm excited to get back to Europe and see Roscoe and my sister and my mum."
SRDJAN SUKICopyright: SRDJAN SUKI
Get involved - is Hamilton unstoppable? #bbcf1
Rachel T: Lewis looks like he is now off to win Wimbledon [he was decked out all in white post-race]. With his winning mentality, it could happen.
Bathembu: I believe Ferrari is capable of It. Both drivers possess great pace and racecraft. They need a car equal to the W06.
F1 Images: Lewis has great pace and determination, Nico has to come out with something else, today was a improvement from other races.
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With three wins in four races, Lewis Hamilton is very much hitting the 2015 season out of the park - and it seems he knows it.
Overdue podium for Raikkonen
Today's race saw Kimi Raikkonen earn his first podium finish since the 2013 Korean Grand Prix.
He also claimed the fastest lap of the race, the 41st of his career to tie with Alain Prost for second on the all-time list. Michael Schumacher leads the way with 77.
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Felipe Massa, P10 for Williams: "My car wouldn't switch on for the start, but then they changed a setting and it switched on. I started from the back of the grid and was gaining positions but unfortunately Maldonado hit my back in corner four and damaged something. It was a frustrating race."
More engine woe at Red Bull
Team boss Christian Horner: "We are now on our engine limit. That's three engines in four races."
Daniel Ricciardo's Renault engine exploded as he crossed the line today, and restrictions on the number of engines a team can use in a season is becoming a big concern for the team.
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Daniel Ricciardo, P6 for Red Bull: "I drove well but it was a bit of a lonely sixth place. I think the team is getting there we are getting there, making improvements. The top three teams are out of reach but coming into the European season and I think we will find a bit more. The biggest gaps have been seen and I think they will only get smaller."
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Eric Boullier, racing manager of McLaren: "We apologise to Jenson that we could not give him a reliable car. Hopefully for Barcelona we will have a new back end of the car and we can forget this weekend."
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Fernando Alonso, P11 for McLaren: "I have to be realistic and I am happy with the race today. We has concerns and you saw with Jenson who did not even start the race. I was important to finish the race and get some laps done. We have an important three weeks ahead to increase the performance and reliability. But to finish the race more less competitively is the best news of the day."
Get involved - #bbcf1
Yesterday we asked you "what's up with Nico?" Today, because we're a contrary bunch, we're doing a U-turn and asking if he's got his mojo back after a battling drive today?
Even if the answer is yes, is a fully-firing Rosberg any match for Hamilton, who stayed well away from the Rosberg-Ferrari squabble today and is now 27 points clear in the title race?
And what of McLaren? We were more than sceptical of Alonso's claims that they'd be in the points by Barcelona, but boy did he show us. P11 today and upgrades to come for the next race. Can McLaren actually save their season?
Get in touch using #bbc1 on any of these subjects - or indeed anything else that takes your fancy.
Bottas delights in fourth-placed finish
Valtteri Bottas, fourth place: "It felt really good to keep Vettel behind me. Ferrari have a quicker car and he was closing quickly but I knew a few tricks to defend and that worked.
"We have plenty of work to do. If we want to fight with Ferrari then we need more pace in the car. We need to push really hard and may be able to squeeze a few extra points."
Strong performance by Stevens
Special mention for Britain's Will Stevens, who finished well ahead of Manor team-mate Roberto Merhi.
After having no pre-season programme, the team got both cars home today, with Stevens taking 16th place, more than 40 seconds ahead of Merhi.
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David Coulthard
BBC F1 co-commentator
"I was disappointed for Nico this was the most racy he has been in Formula 1, wheel to wheel racing he was great today."
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QPR striker Charlie Austin on Twitter: Great drive by Hamilton but what a performance by Raikkonen.
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Force India on Twitter: Back to the points, with merit - one more step in the right direction. Great work by drivers, crew and team!
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Wolff: We need to analyse overheating
Toto Wolff, Mercedes team boss: "It was a huge relief as both cars lost brake power. It was a shame for Nico he was having a great race and did some great overtaking.
"We need to analyse the overheating problem. Looking at the result we were not dominant and Ferrari are catching up. We need to do everything we can to continue to beat them."
Vettel takes blame for missed podium
Sebastian Vettel, fourth place: "I went wide on the last corner and damaged my front wing. I felt like I had less front grip and decided to pit which was the right call. It was a shame as I got stuck and could not get in front.
Luca BrunoCopyright: Luca Bruno
"I feel like I let the team down a little when it was in reach. Kimi proved with second it is possible and he drove a good race. It would have been difficult to catch Nico and overtake as we were both on the same tyre and I had some damage to my front wing but I recovered well and got some decent points."
Hamilton a back-to-back Bahrain winner
Hamilton has become the fourth man to win back-to-back races in Bahrain.
Fernando Alonso was the first man to achieve the feat with victories for Renault in 2005 and 2006, with Felipe Massa (below) following suit for Ferrari in 2007 and 2008, and Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel doing likewise in 2012 and 2013.
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Williams on Twitter: Sparks in the sky and on the race track. We like!
WilliamsCopyright: Williams
Constructors' championships standings after four rounds
1. Mercedes 159
2. Ferrari 107
3. Williams 61
4. Red Bull 23
5. Sauber 19
6. Lotus 12
Podium interviews
Nico Rosberg, third place: "I enjoyed overtaking the red car, I liked that a lot. I couldn't catch Lewis as were were pretty similar as he pulled away and then I lost my brakes and went straight on two laps from the end and it cost me second place."
MARWAN NAAMANICopyright: MARWAN NAAMANI
Podium interviews
Kimi Raikkonen, second place: "I am never happy when I finish second. After a difficult start of the year it as a good place to get some results and we came though very quickly in the end but unfortunately we ran out of laps. We have to be happy after the way we qualified and way we finished but we will be looking for better results.
"Very happy with team to where we were last year, we have taken a big step and are working together in a good direction, we are improving as a tam and will be fighting for wins."
Podium interviews
Lewis Hamilton, first place: "Ferrari gave us a really good run for our money and we will need to keep pushing as a team. It was difficult to look after my tyres in the conditions. My brakes got a bit warm when I went behind a few back markers, there was no cool air coming in but it wasn't a problem."
Hassan AmmarCopyright: Hassan Ammar
Drivers' championship standings after four rounds
1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 93
2. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) 66
3. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) 65
4. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) 42
5. Felipe Massa (Williams) 31
6. Valtteri Bottas (Williams) 30
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David Coulthard
BBC F1 co-commentator
"Ferrari came off the back of a strong winter and you have got to be impressed by how quickly they have developed the car. If Mercedes don't react then they will be taken over by Ferrari."
Sir Jackie Stewart on the podium
No Ed Moses today.
We'll have to make do with three-time world champion and 27-time race winner Sir Jackie Stewart.
Of course a three-time champion is exactly what Lewis Hamilton wants to be come the end of this season. Not bad company to be in.
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Final clasification
Lotus F1Copyright: Lotus F1
Fireworks over Sakhir
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Podium chatter
Rosberg speaking to Raikkonen ahead of the podium ceremony: "I lost my brakes."
Brake problems for both Mercedes
Mercedes have confirmed that brake problems affected both drivers in the final couple of laps.
A big scare for the world champions.
Still, they made it home.
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Ben Edwards
BBC F1 commentator
"The iceman has driven brilliantly here to finish in second place, beaten Rosberg in a fair fight."
Mercedes team radio
Engineer to Nico Rosberg: Sorry about the brakes Nico, it happened at the worst time.
So it seems Rosberg had a problem at the end there. A shame for him.
BBCCopyright: BBC
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Mercedes on Twitter: A heroic P3 from Nico - never backed down right to the flag. What a warrior!
Spectacular finish from Ricciardo
Fourth place goes to the Williams of Bottas, who drove well to keep Vettel behind him.
Sixth went to Daniel Ricciardo, whose Renault engine expired in a dramatic plume of smoke as he exited the last corner but had just enough juice to get him over the line.
Romain Grosjean takes seventh for Lotus ahead Sergio Perez, Daniil Kvyat and Felipe Massa.
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Ben Edwards
BBC F1 commentator
"Mercedes do not get the one-two but for Kimi Raikkonen it is his first podium for Ferarri since the Italian grand prix in 2009"
He made it
A little drama at the end there for Hamilton but he makes it across the line for his third win in four races this season and 36th of his career.
Raikkonen takes second afte a fine drive in the Ferrari, while Hamilton's Mercedes team-mate Rosberg takes third.
Chequered flag
LEWIS HAMILTON WINS THE BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX.
APCopyright: AP
Hold on...
Hamilton reports brake by wire fault...
He's going at reduced speed and weaving a little.
FINAL LAP
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David Coulthard
BBC F1 co-commentator
"Ferrari were just celebrating the pizza too early there, put it back in the oven there are two laps to go."
Raikkoen into second place after Rosberg error
Absolute scenes!
A big mistake from Rosberg, running wide at turn one, allows Raikkonen into second place.
Needless error from the Mercedes man and that is not going to do his fragile confidence any good at all.
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David Coulthard
BBC F1 co-commentator
"How will the traffic hold up Rosberg? This is where you find out who you friends are."
He's behind you...
OK, it's been coming and now it's upon us.
Raikkonen is right behind Rosberg. One second is the gap.
He'll be able to use DRS on the next lap.
Vettel almost hits Bottas
Things getting a little fraught in the battle for fourth.
Vettel slightly misses his marks under braking for the first corner and so nearly clunks the rear wing of Bottas.
A lock up and a reflexive yank of the steering wheel averts the danger.
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Pat Symonds, Williams technical director speaking from the pit wall: "We are looking good at the moment for fourth place with Bottas. Vettel is on slightly fresher tyres, but not by a lot and we seem to be holding him. It is one thing to get up on someone and another to overtake them, We will fight till the end."
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Honda on Twitter: A sublime drive so far by Alonso and he's currently P11.
Honda Racing F1Copyright: Honda Racing F1
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Ben Edwards
BBC F1 commentator
"This has been another brilliant display from Hamilton, he has been superb this year. Winning the second title last year has put him on another level."
FIVE LAPS REMAIN
Hamilton looks set for victory, but it's anyone's guess for second place.
Raikkonen is now just 3.7s behind Rosberg. Another 1.1 taken out of the Mercedes on that last lap.
4.8 now the gap to Rosberg
Raikkonen is now within five seconds of Rosberg in the battle for second.
His advantage on those tyres is dwindling but he's still pulling out a second a lap.
Good battle for fourth
Vettel's nose change has put him behind the Williams of Bottas, who is not in the mood to give up fourth place lightly.
With seven laps to go these guys look set for a battle to the flag.
BBCCopyright: BBC
Ferrari team radio
Kimi Raikkonen: "Come on, the blue flags. They just don't move those people."
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James Allen
BBC Radio 5 live commentator
"It's 26 races since Kimi Raikkonen has stepped up on the podium."
Mercedes team radio
Engineer: The gap to Kimi is now 8.5
Nico Rosberg: Please don't tell me the gap anymore!
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Ben Edwards
BBC F1 commentator
"Lewis Hamilton's advantage looks pretty secure at this stage as he looks for his third victory of the season."
APCopyright: AP
LAP 47 - top 10
1 Lewis Hamilton
2 Nico Rosberg
3 Kimi Raikkonen
4 Valtteri Bottas
5 Sebastian Vettel
6 Daniel Ricciardo
7 Romain Grosjean
8 Felipe Massa
9 Sergio Perez
10 Daniil Kvyat
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Mercedes on Twitter: And sure enough, the Iceman is lighting up the time screens in an ominous shade of purple. Come on Nico - hold on son!!
Gap down to 10 seconds in battle for second
Nico, Kimi is coming to get you.
With 11 laps remaining the Ferrari man has got the gap down to 10 seconds.
Will those soft tyres continue to give Raikkonen a performance advantage all the way to the flag?
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James Allen
BBC Radio 5 live commentator
"Raikkonen's going to come at the Mercedes like a hot knife through butter."
Mercedes team radio
Engineer to Nico Rosberg: "We think Kimi is a threat and is forecast to catch you before the end of the race."
Raikkonen on the move
Raikkonen is taking great chunks of time out of Rosberg in second place.
The gap has come down from 19s after the last pit stops to around 13s now.
Hamilton is five seconds ahead of Rosberg.
Get involved - #bbcf1
Cameron: Tell you what, Nico has definitely showed that he can race today. Three overtakes on Vettel.
Roth: So it looks like if Kimi gets on the podium he'll be doing it despite Ferrari rather than with Ferrari.
Steve Roberts: Alonso must be kicking himself when he sees Ferrari doing well, must be more to it. Can't understand why he would leave.
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David Coulthard
BBC F1 co-commentator
"Maldonado stops for the pit lane limiter and locks the rear axle, maybe in that scenario it switched the engine off."
Problem for Maldonado
Maldonado's car appeared to stall as he just entered the pits for a stop, and he coasted into his box.
The Lotus was sat for a long time while the mechanics tried to get the car restarted, and all the while thick smoke was pouring from his overheating brakes.
He's away again but his hopes of a points finish has gone.
BBCCopyright: BBC
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David Coulthard
BBC F1 co-commentator
"Because of the traffic Hamilton has dropped off by half a second."
LAP 42
Hamilton leads the way by 4.5secs from Mercedes team-mate Rosberg.
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Ben Edwards
BBC F1 commentator
"Raikkonen is going for the option tyres for the last stint of the race he will be able to hit his tyres hard and go flat out. Can he start to close the gap on Rosberg?"
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Allan McNish
BBC Radio 5 live analyst
"Ferrari should have made this pitstop for Kimi Raikkonen much, much earlier."
Raikkonen now pits
OK, he's in and Raikkonen is going to have 17 laps to tear up a new set of soft rubber.
He's well clear of Vettel in the race for third, but can he claw back any time on Rosberg's Mercedes.
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David Coulthard
BBC F1 co-commentator
"Looks like another issue for Raikkonen, doesn't seem to be just the tyres. Looking at Ferrari pit box they are not moving looks like are going to leave them out for another lap."
Hamilton back into lead
The slowing Raikkonen is now passed by Hamilton for the lead.
Why are Ferrari not bringing him in?
Raikkoen needs to get off those tyres!
McLaren's Fernando Alonso has just unlapped himself.
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Mercedes on Twitter: Meanwhile, that man Kimi is continuing to pound round on those 20 lap old mediums. He's still got softs to take. The plot thickens...
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Ben Edwards
BBC F1 commentator
"That pit stop really counts against Vettel getting a podium today and Mercedes like the look of that. But Ferrari still have Raikkonen who is racing against Rosberg for second place."
Double retirement for Toro Rosso
Max Verstappen has pulled into the garage and that is both Toro Rossos out of this race.
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Jennie Gow
BBC Radio 5 live pit-lane reporter
New front wing for Vettel - this is his podium finish over then - long stop.
Get involved - #bbcf1
Alex: The pit stops now are insanely fast, Vettel's stop looked almost instant.
Jeremiah Kariuki: This must be killing Alonso inside. That he cannot race and is a backmarker, just there to let others overtake at will.
Olivia Fahy: Can you guess who this house is cheering for? I think I'm in the wrong house (no offence Lewis Hamilton).
Olivia FahyCopyright: Olivia Fahy
Ferrari team radio
Sebastian Vettel: "Think I have some damage on the front wing - don't know why. Keep an eye on the sensors please."
Vettel pits!
Damage for the Ferrari after that mistake in the final turn.
He's in for a new nose and his victory hopes are over.
Between the Mercedes and Raikkonen now.
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David Coulthard
BBC F1 co-commentator
"This is one of the best displays of racing ability from Rosberg for sometime."
Vettel error lets Rosberg through
Rosberg has passed Vettel again but he got a helping hand from his fellow German.
The Ferrari driver ran wide through the final turn and it was easy for the Mercedes man to pass down the straight.
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Rosberg pits - and Vettel does the undercut again!
A sense of deja vu at he front as Vettel again undercuts the Merc of Rosberg in the pit stops.
The Ferrari man set the fastest lap of the race on fresh tyres to get the job done. Very much the hallmark of a four-time champion.
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David Coulthard
BBC F1 co-commentator
"Raikkonen has matched lap for lap the pace of Hamilton who is at the front."
Hamilton pits
Lewis Hamilton is on the medium, as he needs to be. He rejoins a few second up the road from Vettel.
Rosberg leads now from Raikkonen, who is still very happy on those medium tyres.
He's been on the radio questioning why the team is going to put him on softs at his final stop, but his team assures him it's the right move.
ReutersCopyright: Reuters
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Mercedes on Twitter: That awkward moment when you realise Jenson Button is better at Twitter than you...
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Force India on Twitter: Feeling of deja vu for Nico (Hulkenberg) - now in a battle with Fernando Alonso! Something we've seen quite a bit of in the last two years...
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David Coulthard
BBC F1 co-commentator
"You could see sparks on the front left wheel of Sainz, maybe the wheel nut was not seated correctly."
Vettel pits
The Ferrari man now is on the medium tyre and with 24 laps remaining he's on a run to the flag.
Sainz out
Toro Rosso's Carlos Sainz has just pulled off with what looked like a wheel problem following a pit stop.
"Feeling something strange in the car," the Spaniard tells his team on the radio.
Possible finger trouble in the pit stop?
BBCCopyright: BBC
McLaren update
They may only have one car in the race but McLaren are doing OK - relatively speaking.
Fernando Alonso is battling with Saubers, Force Indias and Williamses in the low teens, and on a two-stop strategy too.
He's been told to expect to be racing the three-stoppers again come the end of the race.
Massa 'has a problem'
Pat Symonds, Williams technical director, speaking from the pit wall: "Massa has a problem. He was hit by Pastor Maldonado early in the race and has got some floor damage which was confirmed at the pit stop. He is struggling on down force at the moment.
"Our target is fourth place, but with the way Raikkonen is going on the prime he has a performance advantage on us."
APCopyright: AP
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Jenson Button on Twitter: Seems like low degradation on the second set of tyres for most, option or prime.
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Lotus on Twitter: A nice quickie for Pastor means a couple of places gained - crowded exit.
LotusCopyright: Lotus
Vettel runs wide but continues
We've just seen a replay of Vettel running wide at the end of the back straight. More encouragement for Raikkonen running behind.
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Jenson Button on Twitter: Great pit lane action between Maldonado, Massa and Nasr.
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Lap 27
The gap among the leading cars is:
Hamilton leading by 2.5secs from Rosberg, with Vettel 3.5 further back. Raikkonen, on the medium, is 6.5secs behind his team-mate.
Massa on Nasr... no wait, Nasr on Massa
The two Felipes are having a good scrap for 10th place.
The vastly less experiences Nasr gets the job done in the Sauber, but the two men are immediately into the pits for their second stops.
They pitted with Pastor Maldonado behind them - but the Lotus mechanics do a brilliant job and the Venezuealan gets the jump on both Nasr and Massa as they exit.
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Jenson Button on Twitter: Ooh is Lewis backing his team mate into Vettel?!? #oldstory #whynot
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Ben Edwards
BBC F1 commentator
"Under three seconds between the top three, 20 laps completed and nothing much to choose between them."
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Tom Clarkson
BBC F1 pit-lane reporter
"I think the top three are tripping over each other. And that's why Raikkonen is gaining on the harder tyre."
Raikkonen finding time on medium tyre
Not sure how, given the medium tyre looked around two seconds slower than the soft in practice, but Kimi Raikkonen has been gaining time on the top three, who are all on softs.
Not what was predicted but there you have it.
He'll be on softs later when the others are on the medium. Definitely a man to watch.
Get involved - #bbcf1
Edward Williamson: If Ferrari are faster on the Mediums, Mercedes have had it.
Simon Partridge: How dangerous is the pit lane at Bahrain? Rosberg and Vettel only needed to be 0.5s earlier! Loving the close racing though!
Jamie Robinson: Kimi could be a dark horse here on a different strategy.
Top 10 on lap 20
So now we've had the first stops, the order is :
1 Hamilton 2 Rosberg 3 Vettel 4 Raikkonen 5 Bottas 6 Ricciardo 7 Grosjean 8 Ericsson 9 Hulkenberg 10 Massa
Raikkonen taking different strategy route
Raikkonen is on the medium tyre, whereas the front three of Hamilton, Rosberg and Vettel are on the softs.
He lost a lot of time still running around on his old softs after the front three had put on fresh sets.
Being on the mediums is not going to see him close in anytime soon, but will he be able to come back into play later in the race?
Impressive from Rosberg
David Coulthard
BBC F1 co-commentator
"Rosberg is aggressive yet assured that is what we wanted to see last year. People mature at different rates but this is a great display from Rosberg this afternoon."
Raikkonen coming in
The Finn is back out again just in front of Bottas. He's fallen away from the front three during that first round of stops.
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Jenson Button on Twitter: I think all the fast cars going 3stop, Only person in top 10 going for a 2 is Perez.
Hamilton in pits
Hamilton has a slowish stop - 3.7secs - and comes out JUST in front of the battling Rosberg and Vettel, the Mercedes man overtaking the Ferrari down the pit straight.
Rosberg gets the pass done as the pair charged down towards the first turn, where the re-joining Hamilton was just getting up to speed.
Spectacular stuff.
BBCCopyright: BBC
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David Coulthard
BBC F1 co-commentator
On Pastor Maldonado setting the fastest lap of the race: "It shows the difference between a new set of options. He doesn't get the chance to finish many races so he has to go for it when he has the opportunity."
Rosberg in
Lap 15 and Rosberg is in, and he comes out BEHIND the Ferrari of Vettel.
The undercut gets the job done for Ferrari.
"Attack him now in fresh tyres," is the message from the Mercedes pit wall to Rosberg.
BBCCopyright: BBC
Vettel first of front-runners to stop
2.4secs stationary for Vettel. His team-mate Raikkonen was right on his tail so when the Finn stops they will be scrapping for track position.
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Lotus on Twitter: First stop for Pastor - with a little added linger.
LotusCopyright: Lotus
Maldonado had to serve a five-second penalty during his pit stop.
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Jenson Button on Twitter: Kimi is the man to watch, looking after his tyres well.
Massa update
Felipe Massa is coming up nicely through the field after his formation-lap bother.
He's just passed Felipe Nasr's Sauber for 14th.
That Williams is comfortably the third quickest car so Massa should be worth watching as he comes through the pack.
Ferraris in close company
Kimi Raikkonen is keeping Sebastian Vettel more than honest here.
The Finn could well get the jump on the four-time champ in the pit stops.
Pit stops starting
Ok, lap 11 and the drivers are coming in for their first stops.
LAP 10
Hamilton leads by 5.368secs from Rosberg.
Job done
Rosberg is up to second but my word Vettel did not make it easy for him.
They both braked incredibly late for turn one but the Mercedes man had the inside line.
Good pass. He came from a long way back to get that done.
Mercedes from Mercedes, Ferrari from Ferrari.
BBCCopyright: BBC
Five-second penalty for Maldonado
Lotus driver Pastor Maldonado was indeed out of position on the grid and he'll be getting a five-second penalty.
Merc looking racy
Ben Edwards
BBC F1 commentator
"Mercedes are looking stronger than Ferrari at this part of the race."
Get involved - #bbcf1
Mike Bird: This is a proper race!
Jeremiah Kariuki: Rosberg seems to have learnt a few tricks from Lewis! A nice pass and defence over Kimi! Time to take the fight to Vettel now.
Rachel Marshall: Ferrari have worked hard over the winter. Good to see some fight & competition during the races so far this season.
Rosberg gunning for second
Lap eight and Rosberg is getting racy.
He's just had a real lunge at Vettel but the Ferrari man shuts the door.
At this rate, and with DRS, it's only a matter of time surely.
BBCCopyright: BBC
Verstappen into the pits
An early stop for Max Verstappen in the Toro Rosso. He had some front-wing damage after that early tangle with Maldonado.
Mercedes team radio
Engineer to Nico Rosberg: "We need a little bit of brake management before you attack Vettel".
Hamilton runs wide
A moment for Lewis Hamilton into turn four. He runs wide, allowing Vettel to close in but the Mercedes man keeps the position.
Great stuff from Nico Rosberg. He sweeps past Rakkionen into the first turn at the start of lap four and he's back into third.
Hamilton still leads by around two second from Vettel.
Maldonado under investigation
The Lotus man being investigated for being out of position on the starting grid.
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Mercedes on Twitter: It was a bold move from Nico but just didn't pay off. He's got work to do now, but we know he's not shy of a bit of graft! #GoNico!
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David Coulthard
BBC F1 co-commentator
"Rosberg tried to go aggressive on Vettel but Raikkonen read that. Rosberg is the loser at start of this grand prix"
Pastor getting ragged
"Maldonado a little bit all over the place on this opening lap," says BBC commentator Ben Edwards.
Toro Rosso's Max Verstappen has just radioed to say he has had contact with the Lotus man.
Rosberg down to fourth
Hamilton holds lead through turn one but it's a bad start for team-mate Rosberg, who loses a place to the Ferrari of Raikkonen.
Hamilton, Vettel, Raikkonen, Rosberg.
Sparks and dust are flying everywhere!
BBCCopyright: BBC
LIGHTS OUT!
Forming up
Ok, an 18-car grid forms up.
Button out, Massa in the pits. What next?
Five-second penalty to come for Sainz
The Toro Rosso driver will serve a five-second penalty at his first pit stop for "exceeding the maximum time" on his recce lap to the grid.
Formation lap starts
And a car is left behind! It's the Williams of Felipe Massa!
Gutting for the Brazilian. The entire bid streams past and instead of starting sixth Massa will be starting from the pit lane.
His engineer Rob Smedley says it's an electrical problem.
BBCCopyright: BBC
Bahrain circuit in focus
BBCCopyright: BBC
Button tweets after failing to take start
Jenson Button on Twitter: As you probably are aware I will not be taking part in the Bahrain GP, the guys have worked flat out to get the car built but we're unable to run.
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Lotus on Twitter: Romain looks ready...
LotusCopyright: Lotus
Get involved - Button out of the race #bbcf1
Carl Rahn Griffith: Good grief, even Manor can get 2 cars on the grid. What an utter embarrassment McLaren has become. They need Ross Brawn.
Party Bob: The whole event has been diabolical for JB... Let's hope the upgraded car gets him smiling again in Barcelona.
Guppster: After what they put JB through last year and they give up on his car that easily.
Ten minutes 'til sunset
Sunset in Sakhir is at 18:03 local time.
The lights are on and the first night race of 2015 is just about ready to go.
BBCCopyright: BBC
Starting grid: 11-19
BBCCopyright: BBC
Jenson Button will not start for McLaren.
McLaren confirm Button will not start
McLaren on Twitter: Sadly we are not able to ready Jenson's car. During fire-up, data indicated an issue originating from his earlier electrical problems.
"It has been another character-building weekend for Red Bull. Daniel Ricciardo qualified seventh again - that seems to be about their position at the moment, with the Renault engine still lagging well behind those of Mercedes and Ferrari - and while the Australian has hopes of taking the fight to Williams, he knows it will not be easy.
"Meanwhile, Daniil Kvyat's nightmare start to his career with the senior team continues. The Russian failed to make it out of first qualifying and seemed a bit perplexed afterwards about why. A couple of hours after qualifying he was saying something vague about 'a few energy issues', admitting they 'needed to understand it deeper'.
"Kvyat has the pace and talent but some people who have worked with him feel the promotion to a team as demanding as Red Bull may have come a year or so too soon. He may well be looking at the three-week break before the next race in Spain as a chance to reset and take stock of what has gone wrong for him so far in 2015."
David Coulthard's grid walk
Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg, third on the grid: "I have to put the setbacks behind me and move on full attack today. I have an awesome car so even when I am not having a great day I am starting third. I have the opportunity at the start and will try and go around the outside.
"I need to be aggressive I can not afford to be safe starting third I have to go for it."
"In China last weekend, the Williams drivers split the Ferraris on the grid, only to lose position on the opening lap after a brilliant double pass by Kimi Raikkonen, and then lose touch thereafter.
"In Bahrain, Valtteri Bottas - the quicker Williams driver this weekend - was just 0.154secs from pipping Raikkonen again. Another lonely race appears in prospect, though. Head of performance engineering Rob Smedley admitted Williams still 'need a bit more performance out of the package to fight with the cars in front.'"
David Coulthard's grid walk
Mercedes head of motorsport Toto Wolff: "There is a real threat from Ferrari, they have improved a lot over the winter. They need to be taken seriously. The old days of having a solid gap and running away with the race are over."
Button out of race - report
The official F1 website is reporting McLaren's Jenson Button will not start this race.
"This is expected to be a two-stop race. Three stops is about the same overall speed but the chances of getting caught in traffic and your pace ruined are too great for most to try it. The key thing in terms of the lead battle will be the 'undercut' - or the prospects of a driver close behind trying to jump the one in front by stopping earlier and taking the benefit of fresh tyres. This is likely to be Ferrari's big tactic against Mercedes.
"An aggressive two-stop could feature a first pit stop as early as lap 12. That commits the driver to a long middle stint on the soft tyres, which would likely not be a worry for either Sebastian Vettel or Kimi Raikkonen but may be a concern for Mercedes. If Ferrari try that, do Mercedes respond to keep track position and try to manage their tyres from in front or stick to their optimum race strategy?
"The favoured tyre strategy is soft-soft-medium, leaving the medium - which has a lower optimum working temperature - until later in the race when track temperatures will be at their coolest and therefore most suitable."
Get involved - responses to Ecclestone on Manor #bbcf1
Diggrich: Not fair. It leaves a sport only to the richest people, not to the ones that love the sport.
Lucy Carr: What a joke without the smaller teams you wouldn't have a race. Manor is a great team. Perhaps it's time for Bernie to go. Go Manor.
Peter Taylor: A lot of people don't want Bernie in F1 either. Maybe he should go too.
"About whom is Lewis Hamilton most concerned - Sebastian Vettel or Nico Rosberg?
"'Your biggest rival is always the person who's closest to you,' Hamilton said, 'even more so with Sebastian because it appears they were quicker on their long runs than we were. So I know I am going to have my work cut out to try to stay ahead while looking after the tyres and make them go the distance and I don't know how much he is going to be on my tail. It might be cool to control it after the first corner.
"'In Malaysia we thought we would be ahead and we ended up behind. In the last race we thought they would be much stronger but they were no problem for me. in this race we think they will be strong and we don't know how it will go. but I hope it's the way I want it to go. I won't know until I get around the first corner.'"
Bahrain archives: Schumacher wins first Middle East race
Michael Schumacher won the inaugural Bahrain Grand Prix for Ferrari on 4 April 2004.
The victory was the 73rd of Schumacher's career his third in as many races at the start of the year. He would go on to win 12 of the first 13 races of 2004 on his way to his seventh and final world title.
The first corner at the Sakhir track was named in honour of Schumacher in early 2014.
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Things looking bad for Button
BBC's pit lane reporter Tom Clarkson reports that another problem has been found with the McLaren of Jenson Button, which has suffered three failures already this weekend - the one in qualifying yesterday caused a fire in the car.
Clarkson says McLaren boss Ron Dennis "is very unhappy with the situation and it's very understandable".
We'll have more news for you when we have it, but Button's car, cordoned-off in the garage, doesn't look like it's going anywhere.
"While last year's Toro Rosso driver Daniil Kvyat struggles following his promotion to Red Bull, the two men who hope to follow in his footsteps continue to impress. This weekend, it was Carlos Sainz Jr's turn to make his mark. The Spaniard has been overlooked a little for his 17-year-old team-mate Max Verstappen so far, but Sainz has always been right there with the Dutchman - they are tied on six points and it is two-all in qualifying - and in Bahrain he was well ahead, in ninth on the grid with Verstappen down in 15th.
"'I feel very happy,' Sainz said. 'Probably it was the least expected Q3 of the year. I even thought this was going to be the toughest and most difficult to achieve after what we had seen in FP3... But we did a mega turnaround and we went for it. Everything worked out and I'm very satisfied with the result.' Verstappen had no excuses, simply complaining about excessive understeer on his car."
Whet your whistle with another look at 2014 race
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton won a thrilling race-long battle with his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg to win last year's Bahrain Grand Prix.
Their fierce battle at the front became a 10-lap sprint after a late safety car period wiped out Hamilton's 10-second advantage following a crash for Sauber's Esteban Gutierrez.
Get involved - your responses to Ecclestone interview #bbcf1
Stephen D'Albiac: Given the choice of Manor, a team of racers, or a manufacturer who will pull the plug when it suits them, I'll take Manor thanks.
Alex Davenport: To say you don't particularly want a team in F1 is terrible. He should be grateful teams want to compete!
Dave Highkinen: I agree that the engines are far too expensive. They're going to get even worse in 2017 if this 1000bhp change goes through.
Manor boss responds to Ecclestone
F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone was very uncomplimentary about Manor in his interview with Eddie Jordan, saying he didn't particularly want the back-of-the-grid team in the sport.
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Ecclestone was annoyed by the team's failure to race at the first race of the season in Australia and has threatened to withhold prize money from the team as a result.
Manor team boss Graeme Lowdon had this to say in response: "With greatest respect to Bernie Ecclestone the message we get is the fans want us here.
"Bernie and our team have the same objectives to contribute to Formula 1, we want to contribute more and when we are at a stage to do that I think he will feel differently.
"We had a difficult end to last season and a difficult start to this season. People were right to be sceptical before Melbourne but we are here to stay and want to push forward."
Maldonado was coming out of the pits on lap 40 and heading into Schumacher corner when he smashed into the side of the Mexican, sending his car into a barrel-roll.
Gutierrez emerged unharmed from the incident while Maldonado was given a warning and handed a five-place grid penalty for the next race in China.
Vettel wants to give Mercedes 'hard time'
Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel, second on the grid today, tells BBC Sport: "A win would be nice. We have a plan for the race but in the end we will race as hard as we can.
"Fairly soon in the race we will find out how quick we are compared to Mercedes. They are the favourites but if we can give them a hard time that would be nice."
Live Reporting
Jamie Strickland
All times stated are UK
Get involved
To the victor belong the spoils
So, for the third time in four races this season it is Lewis Hamilton who leaves a grand prix circuit with a win and 25 world championship points.
He now leads the way in the drivers' standings by 27 points from team-mate Nico Rosberg, which by any measure is a very nice cushion to recline on in the three weeks before the next race in Barcelona.
Hamilton takes home the largest of the four trophies arrayed below, which bear more than a passing resemblance to the FA Cup it must be said.
But that's another live page altogether.
Thanks for being with us. We'll see you in Spain.
Pictures of the day
Pictures of the day
Watch: Ecclestone speaks
Bernie Ecclestone's candid chat with Eddie Jordan provoked a response from many of you on Twitter earlier - and not a lot of it good.
If you missed the interview - or want to watch again - you can do so here.
Brake issue was 'strange' - Rosberg
Speaking to BBC Sport, Nico Rosberg said: "It was very strange for my brakes to fail two laps from the end. I didn't even get a warning, it happened in the middle of my braking zone. I couldn't even see Kimi in my blind spot so maybe I could have defended into turn two so I had no idea where he was. After such an exciting race it was very disappointed. But that is the way it is and it is onwards and upwards and I am happy to have been able to pass the two Ferraris.
"After such a disappointing start I was in full attack mode, I had to fight, I saw Lewis getting away and had two red cars in between I went for it and it worked out."
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McLaren reserve driver Kevin Magnussen on Twitter: Good job to McLaren today. Getting close to points now. #stepbystep #BelieveInMcLarenHonda
Pictures of the day
Pictures of the day
Hamilton employed 'failsafe' after brake problem
Lewis Hamilton has been speaking to BBC Sport: "I felt quite comfortable, didn't feel under too much pressure from Kimi. I was feeling good then the brakes went long and I thought I had a brake failure, but I think Nico had something similar. I remembered a failsafe and that reset it, but I didn't push the brakes too much after that."
On his plans before the next race in Barcelona: "I'm leaving in like half an hour or something, back to Monaco where I will spend a couple of days back at home and then I start work on Wednesday. I'm excited to get back to Europe and see Roscoe and my sister and my mum."
Get involved - is Hamilton unstoppable? #bbcf1
Rachel T: Lewis looks like he is now off to win Wimbledon [he was decked out all in white post-race]. With his winning mentality, it could happen.
Bathembu: I believe Ferrari is capable of It. Both drivers possess great pace and racecraft. They need a car equal to the W06.
F1 Images: Lewis has great pace and determination, Nico has to come out with something else, today was a improvement from other races.
Pictures of the day
Pictures of the day
Pictures of the day
With three wins in four races, Lewis Hamilton is very much hitting the 2015 season out of the park - and it seems he knows it.
Overdue podium for Raikkonen
Today's race saw Kimi Raikkonen earn his first podium finish since the 2013 Korean Grand Prix.
He also claimed the fastest lap of the race, the 41st of his career to tie with Alain Prost for second on the all-time list. Michael Schumacher leads the way with 77.
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Felipe Massa, P10 for Williams: "My car wouldn't switch on for the start, but then they changed a setting and it switched on. I started from the back of the grid and was gaining positions but unfortunately Maldonado hit my back in corner four and damaged something. It was a frustrating race."
More engine woe at Red Bull
Team boss Christian Horner: "We are now on our engine limit. That's three engines in four races."
Daniel Ricciardo's Renault engine exploded as he crossed the line today, and restrictions on the number of engines a team can use in a season is becoming a big concern for the team.
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Daniel Ricciardo, P6 for Red Bull: "I drove well but it was a bit of a lonely sixth place. I think the team is getting there we are getting there, making improvements. The top three teams are out of reach but coming into the European season and I think we will find a bit more. The biggest gaps have been seen and I think they will only get smaller."
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Eric Boullier, racing manager of McLaren: "We apologise to Jenson that we could not give him a reliable car. Hopefully for Barcelona we will have a new back end of the car and we can forget this weekend."
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Fernando Alonso, P11 for McLaren: "I have to be realistic and I am happy with the race today. We has concerns and you saw with Jenson who did not even start the race. I was important to finish the race and get some laps done. We have an important three weeks ahead to increase the performance and reliability. But to finish the race more less competitively is the best news of the day."
Get involved - #bbcf1
Yesterday we asked you "what's up with Nico?" Today, because we're a contrary bunch, we're doing a U-turn and asking if he's got his mojo back after a battling drive today?
Even if the answer is yes, is a fully-firing Rosberg any match for Hamilton, who stayed well away from the Rosberg-Ferrari squabble today and is now 27 points clear in the title race?
And what of McLaren? We were more than sceptical of Alonso's claims that they'd be in the points by Barcelona, but boy did he show us. P11 today and upgrades to come for the next race. Can McLaren actually save their season?
Get in touch using #bbc1 on any of these subjects - or indeed anything else that takes your fancy.
Bottas delights in fourth-placed finish
Valtteri Bottas, fourth place: "It felt really good to keep Vettel behind me. Ferrari have a quicker car and he was closing quickly but I knew a few tricks to defend and that worked.
"We have plenty of work to do. If we want to fight with Ferrari then we need more pace in the car. We need to push really hard and may be able to squeeze a few extra points."
Strong performance by Stevens
Special mention for Britain's Will Stevens, who finished well ahead of Manor team-mate Roberto Merhi.
After having no pre-season programme, the team got both cars home today, with Stevens taking 16th place, more than 40 seconds ahead of Merhi.
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David Coulthard
BBC F1 co-commentator
"I was disappointed for Nico this was the most racy he has been in Formula 1, wheel to wheel racing he was great today."
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QPR striker Charlie Austin on Twitter: Great drive by Hamilton but what a performance by Raikkonen.
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Force India on Twitter: Back to the points, with merit - one more step in the right direction. Great work by drivers, crew and team!
Wolff: We need to analyse overheating
Toto Wolff, Mercedes team boss: "It was a huge relief as both cars lost brake power. It was a shame for Nico he was having a great race and did some great overtaking.
"We need to analyse the overheating problem. Looking at the result we were not dominant and Ferrari are catching up. We need to do everything we can to continue to beat them."
Vettel takes blame for missed podium
Sebastian Vettel, fourth place: "I went wide on the last corner and damaged my front wing. I felt like I had less front grip and decided to pit which was the right call. It was a shame as I got stuck and could not get in front.
"I feel like I let the team down a little when it was in reach. Kimi proved with second it is possible and he drove a good race. It would have been difficult to catch Nico and overtake as we were both on the same tyre and I had some damage to my front wing but I recovered well and got some decent points."
Hamilton a back-to-back Bahrain winner
Hamilton has become the fourth man to win back-to-back races in Bahrain.
Fernando Alonso was the first man to achieve the feat with victories for Renault in 2005 and 2006, with Felipe Massa (below) following suit for Ferrari in 2007 and 2008, and Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel doing likewise in 2012 and 2013.
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Williams on Twitter: Sparks in the sky and on the race track. We like!
Constructors' championships standings after four rounds
1. Mercedes 159
2. Ferrari 107
3. Williams 61
4. Red Bull 23
5. Sauber 19
6. Lotus 12
Podium interviews
Nico Rosberg, third place: "I enjoyed overtaking the red car, I liked that a lot. I couldn't catch Lewis as were were pretty similar as he pulled away and then I lost my brakes and went straight on two laps from the end and it cost me second place."
Podium interviews
Kimi Raikkonen, second place: "I am never happy when I finish second. After a difficult start of the year it as a good place to get some results and we came though very quickly in the end but unfortunately we ran out of laps. We have to be happy after the way we qualified and way we finished but we will be looking for better results.
"Very happy with team to where we were last year, we have taken a big step and are working together in a good direction, we are improving as a tam and will be fighting for wins."
Podium interviews
Lewis Hamilton, first place: "Ferrari gave us a really good run for our money and we will need to keep pushing as a team. It was difficult to look after my tyres in the conditions. My brakes got a bit warm when I went behind a few back markers, there was no cool air coming in but it wasn't a problem."
Drivers' championship standings after four rounds
1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 93
2. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) 66
3. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) 65
4. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) 42
5. Felipe Massa (Williams) 31
6. Valtteri Bottas (Williams) 30
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David Coulthard
BBC F1 co-commentator
"Ferrari came off the back of a strong winter and you have got to be impressed by how quickly they have developed the car. If Mercedes don't react then they will be taken over by Ferrari."
Sir Jackie Stewart on the podium
No Ed Moses today.
We'll have to make do with three-time world champion and 27-time race winner Sir Jackie Stewart.
Of course a three-time champion is exactly what Lewis Hamilton wants to be come the end of this season. Not bad company to be in.
Final clasification
Fireworks over Sakhir
Podium chatter
Rosberg speaking to Raikkonen ahead of the podium ceremony: "I lost my brakes."
Brake problems for both Mercedes
Mercedes have confirmed that brake problems affected both drivers in the final couple of laps.
A big scare for the world champions.
Still, they made it home.
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Ben Edwards
BBC F1 commentator
"The iceman has driven brilliantly here to finish in second place, beaten Rosberg in a fair fight."
Mercedes team radio
Engineer to Nico Rosberg: Sorry about the brakes Nico, it happened at the worst time.
So it seems Rosberg had a problem at the end there. A shame for him.
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Mercedes on Twitter: A heroic P3 from Nico - never backed down right to the flag. What a warrior!
Spectacular finish from Ricciardo
Fourth place goes to the Williams of Bottas, who drove well to keep Vettel behind him.
Sixth went to Daniel Ricciardo, whose Renault engine expired in a dramatic plume of smoke as he exited the last corner but had just enough juice to get him over the line.
Romain Grosjean takes seventh for Lotus ahead Sergio Perez, Daniil Kvyat and Felipe Massa.
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Ben Edwards
BBC F1 commentator
"Mercedes do not get the one-two but for Kimi Raikkonen it is his first podium for Ferarri since the Italian grand prix in 2009"
He made it
A little drama at the end there for Hamilton but he makes it across the line for his third win in four races this season and 36th of his career.
Raikkonen takes second afte a fine drive in the Ferrari, while Hamilton's Mercedes team-mate Rosberg takes third.
Chequered flag
LEWIS HAMILTON WINS THE BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX.
Hold on...
Hamilton reports brake by wire fault...
He's going at reduced speed and weaving a little.
FINAL LAP
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David Coulthard
BBC F1 co-commentator
"Ferrari were just celebrating the pizza too early there, put it back in the oven there are two laps to go."
Raikkoen into second place after Rosberg error
Absolute scenes!
A big mistake from Rosberg, running wide at turn one, allows Raikkonen into second place.
Needless error from the Mercedes man and that is not going to do his fragile confidence any good at all.
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David Coulthard
BBC F1 co-commentator
"How will the traffic hold up Rosberg? This is where you find out who you friends are."
He's behind you...
OK, it's been coming and now it's upon us.
Raikkonen is right behind Rosberg. One second is the gap.
He'll be able to use DRS on the next lap.
Vettel almost hits Bottas
Things getting a little fraught in the battle for fourth.
Vettel slightly misses his marks under braking for the first corner and so nearly clunks the rear wing of Bottas.
A lock up and a reflexive yank of the steering wheel averts the danger.
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Pat Symonds, Williams technical director speaking from the pit wall: "We are looking good at the moment for fourth place with Bottas. Vettel is on slightly fresher tyres, but not by a lot and we seem to be holding him. It is one thing to get up on someone and another to overtake them, We will fight till the end."
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Honda on Twitter: A sublime drive so far by Alonso and he's currently P11.
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Ben Edwards
BBC F1 commentator
"This has been another brilliant display from Hamilton, he has been superb this year. Winning the second title last year has put him on another level."
FIVE LAPS REMAIN
Hamilton looks set for victory, but it's anyone's guess for second place.
Raikkonen is now just 3.7s behind Rosberg. Another 1.1 taken out of the Mercedes on that last lap.
4.8 now the gap to Rosberg
Raikkonen is now within five seconds of Rosberg in the battle for second.
His advantage on those tyres is dwindling but he's still pulling out a second a lap.
Good battle for fourth
Vettel's nose change has put him behind the Williams of Bottas, who is not in the mood to give up fourth place lightly.
With seven laps to go these guys look set for a battle to the flag.
Ferrari team radio
Kimi Raikkonen: "Come on, the blue flags. They just don't move those people."
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James Allen
BBC Radio 5 live commentator
"It's 26 races since Kimi Raikkonen has stepped up on the podium."
Mercedes team radio
Engineer: The gap to Kimi is now 8.5
Nico Rosberg: Please don't tell me the gap anymore!
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Ben Edwards
BBC F1 commentator
"Lewis Hamilton's advantage looks pretty secure at this stage as he looks for his third victory of the season."
LAP 47 - top 10
1 Lewis Hamilton
2 Nico Rosberg
3 Kimi Raikkonen
4 Valtteri Bottas
5 Sebastian Vettel
6 Daniel Ricciardo
7 Romain Grosjean
8 Felipe Massa
9 Sergio Perez
10 Daniil Kvyat
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Mercedes on Twitter: And sure enough, the Iceman is lighting up the time screens in an ominous shade of purple. Come on Nico - hold on son!!
Gap down to 10 seconds in battle for second
Nico, Kimi is coming to get you.
With 11 laps remaining the Ferrari man has got the gap down to 10 seconds.
Will those soft tyres continue to give Raikkonen a performance advantage all the way to the flag?
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James Allen
BBC Radio 5 live commentator
"Raikkonen's going to come at the Mercedes like a hot knife through butter."
Mercedes team radio
Engineer to Nico Rosberg: "We think Kimi is a threat and is forecast to catch you before the end of the race."
Raikkonen on the move
Raikkonen is taking great chunks of time out of Rosberg in second place.
The gap has come down from 19s after the last pit stops to around 13s now.
Hamilton is five seconds ahead of Rosberg.
Get involved - #bbcf1
Cameron: Tell you what, Nico has definitely showed that he can race today. Three overtakes on Vettel.
Roth: So it looks like if Kimi gets on the podium he'll be doing it despite Ferrari rather than with Ferrari.
Steve Roberts: Alonso must be kicking himself when he sees Ferrari doing well, must be more to it. Can't understand why he would leave.
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David Coulthard
BBC F1 co-commentator
"Maldonado stops for the pit lane limiter and locks the rear axle, maybe in that scenario it switched the engine off."
Problem for Maldonado
Maldonado's car appeared to stall as he just entered the pits for a stop, and he coasted into his box.
The Lotus was sat for a long time while the mechanics tried to get the car restarted, and all the while thick smoke was pouring from his overheating brakes.
He's away again but his hopes of a points finish has gone.
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David Coulthard
BBC F1 co-commentator
"Because of the traffic Hamilton has dropped off by half a second."
LAP 42
Hamilton leads the way by 4.5secs from Mercedes team-mate Rosberg.
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Ben Edwards
BBC F1 commentator
"Raikkonen is going for the option tyres for the last stint of the race he will be able to hit his tyres hard and go flat out. Can he start to close the gap on Rosberg?"
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Allan McNish
BBC Radio 5 live analyst
"Ferrari should have made this pitstop for Kimi Raikkonen much, much earlier."
Raikkonen now pits
OK, he's in and Raikkonen is going to have 17 laps to tear up a new set of soft rubber.
He's well clear of Vettel in the race for third, but can he claw back any time on Rosberg's Mercedes.
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David Coulthard
BBC F1 co-commentator
"Looks like another issue for Raikkonen, doesn't seem to be just the tyres. Looking at Ferrari pit box they are not moving looks like are going to leave them out for another lap."
Hamilton back into lead
The slowing Raikkonen is now passed by Hamilton for the lead.
Why are Ferrari not bringing him in?
Raikkoen needs to get off those tyres!
McLaren's Fernando Alonso has just unlapped himself.
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Mercedes on Twitter: Meanwhile, that man Kimi is continuing to pound round on those 20 lap old mediums. He's still got softs to take. The plot thickens...
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Ben Edwards
BBC F1 commentator
"That pit stop really counts against Vettel getting a podium today and Mercedes like the look of that. But Ferrari still have Raikkonen who is racing against Rosberg for second place."
Double retirement for Toro Rosso
Max Verstappen has pulled into the garage and that is both Toro Rossos out of this race.
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Jennie Gow
BBC Radio 5 live pit-lane reporter
New front wing for Vettel - this is his podium finish over then - long stop.
Get involved - #bbcf1
Alex: The pit stops now are insanely fast, Vettel's stop looked almost instant.
Jeremiah Kariuki: This must be killing Alonso inside. That he cannot race and is a backmarker, just there to let others overtake at will.
Olivia Fahy: Can you guess who this house is cheering for? I think I'm in the wrong house (no offence Lewis Hamilton).
Ferrari team radio
Sebastian Vettel: "Think I have some damage on the front wing - don't know why. Keep an eye on the sensors please."
Vettel pits!
Damage for the Ferrari after that mistake in the final turn.
He's in for a new nose and his victory hopes are over.
Between the Mercedes and Raikkonen now.
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David Coulthard
BBC F1 co-commentator
"This is one of the best displays of racing ability from Rosberg for sometime."
Vettel error lets Rosberg through
Rosberg has passed Vettel again but he got a helping hand from his fellow German.
The Ferrari driver ran wide through the final turn and it was easy for the Mercedes man to pass down the straight.
Rosberg pits - and Vettel does the undercut again!
A sense of deja vu at he front as Vettel again undercuts the Merc of Rosberg in the pit stops.
The Ferrari man set the fastest lap of the race on fresh tyres to get the job done. Very much the hallmark of a four-time champion.
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David Coulthard
BBC F1 co-commentator
"Raikkonen has matched lap for lap the pace of Hamilton who is at the front."
Hamilton pits
Lewis Hamilton is on the medium, as he needs to be. He rejoins a few second up the road from Vettel.
Rosberg leads now from Raikkonen, who is still very happy on those medium tyres.
He's been on the radio questioning why the team is going to put him on softs at his final stop, but his team assures him it's the right move.
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Mercedes on Twitter: That awkward moment when you realise Jenson Button is better at Twitter than you...
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Force India on Twitter: Feeling of deja vu for Nico (Hulkenberg) - now in a battle with Fernando Alonso! Something we've seen quite a bit of in the last two years...
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David Coulthard
BBC F1 co-commentator
"You could see sparks on the front left wheel of Sainz, maybe the wheel nut was not seated correctly."
Vettel pits
The Ferrari man now is on the medium tyre and with 24 laps remaining he's on a run to the flag.
Sainz out
Toro Rosso's Carlos Sainz has just pulled off with what looked like a wheel problem following a pit stop.
"Feeling something strange in the car," the Spaniard tells his team on the radio.
Possible finger trouble in the pit stop?
McLaren update
They may only have one car in the race but McLaren are doing OK - relatively speaking.
Fernando Alonso is battling with Saubers, Force Indias and Williamses in the low teens, and on a two-stop strategy too.
He's been told to expect to be racing the three-stoppers again come the end of the race.
Massa 'has a problem'
Pat Symonds, Williams technical director, speaking from the pit wall: "Massa has a problem. He was hit by Pastor Maldonado early in the race and has got some floor damage which was confirmed at the pit stop. He is struggling on down force at the moment.
"Our target is fourth place, but with the way Raikkonen is going on the prime he has a performance advantage on us."
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Jenson Button on Twitter: Seems like low degradation on the second set of tyres for most, option or prime.
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Lotus on Twitter: A nice quickie for Pastor means a couple of places gained - crowded exit.
Vettel runs wide but continues
We've just seen a replay of Vettel running wide at the end of the back straight. More encouragement for Raikkonen running behind.
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Jenson Button on Twitter: Great pit lane action between Maldonado, Massa and Nasr.
Lap 27
The gap among the leading cars is:
Hamilton leading by 2.5secs from Rosberg, with Vettel 3.5 further back. Raikkonen, on the medium, is 6.5secs behind his team-mate.
Massa on Nasr... no wait, Nasr on Massa
The two Felipes are having a good scrap for 10th place.
The vastly less experiences Nasr gets the job done in the Sauber, but the two men are immediately into the pits for their second stops.
They pitted with Pastor Maldonado behind them - but the Lotus mechanics do a brilliant job and the Venezuealan gets the jump on both Nasr and Massa as they exit.
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Jenson Button on Twitter: Ooh is Lewis backing his team mate into Vettel?!? #oldstory #whynot
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Ben Edwards
BBC F1 commentator
"Under three seconds between the top three, 20 laps completed and nothing much to choose between them."
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Tom Clarkson
BBC F1 pit-lane reporter
"I think the top three are tripping over each other. And that's why Raikkonen is gaining on the harder tyre."
Raikkonen finding time on medium tyre
Not sure how, given the medium tyre looked around two seconds slower than the soft in practice, but Kimi Raikkonen has been gaining time on the top three, who are all on softs.
Not what was predicted but there you have it.
He'll be on softs later when the others are on the medium. Definitely a man to watch.
Get involved - #bbcf1
Edward Williamson: If Ferrari are faster on the Mediums, Mercedes have had it.
Simon Partridge: How dangerous is the pit lane at Bahrain? Rosberg and Vettel only needed to be 0.5s earlier! Loving the close racing though!
Jamie Robinson: Kimi could be a dark horse here on a different strategy.
Top 10 on lap 20
So now we've had the first stops, the order is :
1 Hamilton 2 Rosberg 3 Vettel 4 Raikkonen 5 Bottas 6 Ricciardo 7 Grosjean 8 Ericsson 9 Hulkenberg 10 Massa
Raikkonen taking different strategy route
Raikkonen is on the medium tyre, whereas the front three of Hamilton, Rosberg and Vettel are on the softs.
He lost a lot of time still running around on his old softs after the front three had put on fresh sets.
Being on the mediums is not going to see him close in anytime soon, but will he be able to come back into play later in the race?
Impressive from Rosberg
David Coulthard
BBC F1 co-commentator
"Rosberg is aggressive yet assured that is what we wanted to see last year. People mature at different rates but this is a great display from Rosberg this afternoon."
Raikkonen coming in
The Finn is back out again just in front of Bottas. He's fallen away from the front three during that first round of stops.
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Jenson Button on Twitter: I think all the fast cars going 3stop, Only person in top 10 going for a 2 is Perez.
Hamilton in pits
Hamilton has a slowish stop - 3.7secs - and comes out JUST in front of the battling Rosberg and Vettel, the Mercedes man overtaking the Ferrari down the pit straight.
Rosberg gets the pass done as the pair charged down towards the first turn, where the re-joining Hamilton was just getting up to speed.
Spectacular stuff.
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David Coulthard
BBC F1 co-commentator
On Pastor Maldonado setting the fastest lap of the race: "It shows the difference between a new set of options. He doesn't get the chance to finish many races so he has to go for it when he has the opportunity."
Rosberg in
Lap 15 and Rosberg is in, and he comes out BEHIND the Ferrari of Vettel.
The undercut gets the job done for Ferrari.
"Attack him now in fresh tyres," is the message from the Mercedes pit wall to Rosberg.
Vettel first of front-runners to stop
2.4secs stationary for Vettel. His team-mate Raikkonen was right on his tail so when the Finn stops they will be scrapping for track position.
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Lotus on Twitter: First stop for Pastor - with a little added linger.
Maldonado had to serve a five-second penalty during his pit stop.
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Jenson Button on Twitter: Kimi is the man to watch, looking after his tyres well.
Massa update
Felipe Massa is coming up nicely through the field after his formation-lap bother.
He's just passed Felipe Nasr's Sauber for 14th.
That Williams is comfortably the third quickest car so Massa should be worth watching as he comes through the pack.
Ferraris in close company
Kimi Raikkonen is keeping Sebastian Vettel more than honest here.
The Finn could well get the jump on the four-time champ in the pit stops.
Pit stops starting
Ok, lap 11 and the drivers are coming in for their first stops.
LAP 10
Hamilton leads by 5.368secs from Rosberg.
Job done
Rosberg is up to second but my word Vettel did not make it easy for him.
They both braked incredibly late for turn one but the Mercedes man had the inside line.
Good pass. He came from a long way back to get that done.
Mercedes from Mercedes, Ferrari from Ferrari.
Five-second penalty for Maldonado
Lotus driver Pastor Maldonado was indeed out of position on the grid and he'll be getting a five-second penalty.
Merc looking racy
Ben Edwards
BBC F1 commentator
"Mercedes are looking stronger than Ferrari at this part of the race."
Get involved - #bbcf1
Mike Bird: This is a proper race!
Jeremiah Kariuki: Rosberg seems to have learnt a few tricks from Lewis! A nice pass and defence over Kimi! Time to take the fight to Vettel now.
Rachel Marshall: Ferrari have worked hard over the winter. Good to see some fight & competition during the races so far this season.
Rosberg gunning for second
Lap eight and Rosberg is getting racy.
He's just had a real lunge at Vettel but the Ferrari man shuts the door.
At this rate, and with DRS, it's only a matter of time surely.
Verstappen into the pits
An early stop for Max Verstappen in the Toro Rosso. He had some front-wing damage after that early tangle with Maldonado.
Mercedes team radio
Engineer to Nico Rosberg: "We need a little bit of brake management before you attack Vettel".
Hamilton runs wide
A moment for Lewis Hamilton into turn four. He runs wide, allowing Vettel to close in but the Mercedes man keeps the position.
LAP 4 - top 10
Hamilton, Vettel, Rosberg, Raikkonen, Bottas, Ricciardo, Grosjean, Hulkenberg, Ericsson, Sainz.
Rosberg up to third
Great stuff from Nico Rosberg. He sweeps past Rakkionen into the first turn at the start of lap four and he's back into third.
Hamilton still leads by around two second from Vettel.
Maldonado under investigation
The Lotus man being investigated for being out of position on the starting grid.
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Mercedes on Twitter: It was a bold move from Nico but just didn't pay off. He's got work to do now, but we know he's not shy of a bit of graft! #GoNico!
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David Coulthard
BBC F1 co-commentator
"Rosberg tried to go aggressive on Vettel but Raikkonen read that. Rosberg is the loser at start of this grand prix"
Pastor getting ragged
"Maldonado a little bit all over the place on this opening lap," says BBC commentator Ben Edwards.
Toro Rosso's Max Verstappen has just radioed to say he has had contact with the Lotus man.
Rosberg down to fourth
Hamilton holds lead through turn one but it's a bad start for team-mate Rosberg, who loses a place to the Ferrari of Raikkonen.
Hamilton, Vettel, Raikkonen, Rosberg.
Sparks and dust are flying everywhere!
LIGHTS OUT!
Forming up
Ok, an 18-car grid forms up.
Button out, Massa in the pits. What next?
Five-second penalty to come for Sainz
The Toro Rosso driver will serve a five-second penalty at his first pit stop for "exceeding the maximum time" on his recce lap to the grid.
Formation lap starts
And a car is left behind! It's the Williams of Felipe Massa!
Gutting for the Brazilian. The entire bid streams past and instead of starting sixth Massa will be starting from the pit lane.
His engineer Rob Smedley says it's an electrical problem.
Bahrain circuit in focus
Button tweets after failing to take start
Jenson Button on Twitter: As you probably are aware I will not be taking part in the Bahrain GP, the guys have worked flat out to get the car built but we're unable to run.
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Lotus on Twitter: Romain looks ready...
Get involved - Button out of the race #bbcf1
Carl Rahn Griffith: Good grief, even Manor can get 2 cars on the grid. What an utter embarrassment McLaren has become. They need Ross Brawn.
Party Bob: The whole event has been diabolical for JB... Let's hope the upgraded car gets him smiling again in Barcelona.
Guppster: After what they put JB through last year and they give up on his car that easily.
Ten minutes 'til sunset
Sunset in Sakhir is at 18:03 local time.
The lights are on and the first night race of 2015 is just about ready to go.
Starting grid: 11-19
Jenson Button will not start for McLaren.
McLaren confirm Button will not start
McLaren on Twitter: Sadly we are not able to ready Jenson's car. During fire-up, data indicated an issue originating from his earlier electrical problems.
Starting grid: pole-10
Tough times at Red Bull
Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer
"It has been another character-building weekend for Red Bull. Daniel Ricciardo qualified seventh again - that seems to be about their position at the moment, with the Renault engine still lagging well behind those of Mercedes and Ferrari - and while the Australian has hopes of taking the fight to Williams, he knows it will not be easy.
"Meanwhile, Daniil Kvyat's nightmare start to his career with the senior team continues. The Russian failed to make it out of first qualifying and seemed a bit perplexed afterwards about why. A couple of hours after qualifying he was saying something vague about 'a few energy issues', admitting they 'needed to understand it deeper'.
"Kvyat has the pace and talent but some people who have worked with him feel the promotion to a team as demanding as Red Bull may have come a year or so too soon. He may well be looking at the three-week break before the next race in Spain as a chance to reset and take stock of what has gone wrong for him so far in 2015."
David Coulthard's grid walk
Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg, third on the grid: "I have to put the setbacks behind me and move on full attack today. I have an awesome car so even when I am not having a great day I am starting third. I have the opportunity at the start and will try and go around the outside.
"I need to be aggressive I can not afford to be safe starting third I have to go for it."
Williams 'need more performance'
Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer
"In China last weekend, the Williams drivers split the Ferraris on the grid, only to lose position on the opening lap after a brilliant double pass by Kimi Raikkonen, and then lose touch thereafter.
"In Bahrain, Valtteri Bottas - the quicker Williams driver this weekend - was just 0.154secs from pipping Raikkonen again. Another lonely race appears in prospect, though. Head of performance engineering Rob Smedley admitted Williams still 'need a bit more performance out of the package to fight with the cars in front.'"
David Coulthard's grid walk
Mercedes head of motorsport Toto Wolff: "There is a real threat from Ferrari, they have improved a lot over the winter. They need to be taken seriously. The old days of having a solid gap and running away with the race are over."
Button out of race - report
The official F1 website is reporting McLaren's Jenson Button will not start this race.
We'll bring you confirmation when we have it.
Two stops expected today
Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer
"This is expected to be a two-stop race. Three stops is about the same overall speed but the chances of getting caught in traffic and your pace ruined are too great for most to try it. The key thing in terms of the lead battle will be the 'undercut' - or the prospects of a driver close behind trying to jump the one in front by stopping earlier and taking the benefit of fresh tyres. This is likely to be Ferrari's big tactic against Mercedes.
"An aggressive two-stop could feature a first pit stop as early as lap 12. That commits the driver to a long middle stint on the soft tyres, which would likely not be a worry for either Sebastian Vettel or Kimi Raikkonen but may be a concern for Mercedes. If Ferrari try that, do Mercedes respond to keep track position and try to manage their tyres from in front or stick to their optimum race strategy?
"The favoured tyre strategy is soft-soft-medium, leaving the medium - which has a lower optimum working temperature - until later in the race when track temperatures will be at their coolest and therefore most suitable."
Get involved - responses to Ecclestone on Manor #bbcf1
Diggrich: Not fair. It leaves a sport only to the richest people, not to the ones that love the sport.
Lucy Carr: What a joke without the smaller teams you wouldn't have a race. Manor is a great team. Perhaps it's time for Bernie to go. Go Manor.
Peter Taylor: A lot of people don't want Bernie in F1 either. Maybe he should go too.
Vettel is Hamilton's biggest threat
Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer
"About whom is Lewis Hamilton most concerned - Sebastian Vettel or Nico Rosberg?
"'Your biggest rival is always the person who's closest to you,' Hamilton said, 'even more so with Sebastian because it appears they were quicker on their long runs than we were. So I know I am going to have my work cut out to try to stay ahead while looking after the tyres and make them go the distance and I don't know how much he is going to be on my tail. It might be cool to control it after the first corner.
"'In Malaysia we thought we would be ahead and we ended up behind. In the last race we thought they would be much stronger but they were no problem for me. in this race we think they will be strong and we don't know how it will go. but I hope it's the way I want it to go. I won't know until I get around the first corner.'"
Bahrain archives: Schumacher wins first Middle East race
Michael Schumacher won the inaugural Bahrain Grand Prix for Ferrari on 4 April 2004.
The victory was the 73rd of Schumacher's career his third in as many races at the start of the year. He would go on to win 12 of the first 13 races of 2004 on his way to his seventh and final world title.
The first corner at the Sakhir track was named in honour of Schumacher in early 2014.
Things looking bad for Button
BBC's pit lane reporter Tom Clarkson reports that another problem has been found with the McLaren of Jenson Button, which has suffered three failures already this weekend - the one in qualifying yesterday caused a fire in the car.
Clarkson says McLaren boss Ron Dennis "is very unhappy with the situation and it's very understandable".
We'll have more news for you when we have it, but Button's car, cordoned-off in the garage, doesn't look like it's going anywhere.
Sainz impresses for Toro Rosso
Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer
"While last year's Toro Rosso driver Daniil Kvyat struggles following his promotion to Red Bull, the two men who hope to follow in his footsteps continue to impress. This weekend, it was Carlos Sainz Jr's turn to make his mark. The Spaniard has been overlooked a little for his 17-year-old team-mate Max Verstappen so far, but Sainz has always been right there with the Dutchman - they are tied on six points and it is two-all in qualifying - and in Bahrain he was well ahead, in ninth on the grid with Verstappen down in 15th.
"'I feel very happy,' Sainz said. 'Probably it was the least expected Q3 of the year. I even thought this was going to be the toughest and most difficult to achieve after what we had seen in FP3... But we did a mega turnaround and we went for it. Everything worked out and I'm very satisfied with the result.' Verstappen had no excuses, simply complaining about excessive understeer on his car."
Whet your whistle with another look at 2014 race
Lewis Hamilton won a thrilling race-long battle with his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg to win last year's Bahrain Grand Prix.
Their fierce battle at the front became a 10-lap sprint after a late safety car period wiped out Hamilton's 10-second advantage following a crash for Sauber's Esteban Gutierrez.
You can relive their fight for victory here.
Get involved - your responses to Ecclestone interview #bbcf1
Stephen D'Albiac: Given the choice of Manor, a team of racers, or a manufacturer who will pull the plug when it suits them, I'll take Manor thanks.
Alex Davenport: To say you don't particularly want a team in F1 is terrible. He should be grateful teams want to compete!
Dave Highkinen: I agree that the engines are far too expensive. They're going to get even worse in 2017 if this 1000bhp change goes through.
Manor boss responds to Ecclestone
F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone was very uncomplimentary about Manor in his interview with Eddie Jordan, saying he didn't particularly want the back-of-the-grid team in the sport.
Ecclestone was annoyed by the team's failure to race at the first race of the season in Australia and has threatened to withhold prize money from the team as a result.
Manor team boss Graeme Lowdon had this to say in response: "With greatest respect to Bernie Ecclestone the message we get is the fans want us here.
"Bernie and our team have the same objectives to contribute to Formula 1, we want to contribute more and when we are at a stage to do that I think he will feel differently.
"We had a difficult end to last season and a difficult start to this season. People were right to be sceptical before Melbourne but we are here to stay and want to push forward."
Bahrain archives: Gutierrez's floodlit flip
Last year's race delivered one of the most spectacular moments of the season when Esteban Gutierrez's Sauber was flipped over following a collision with the Lotus of Pastor Maldonado.
Maldonado was coming out of the pits on lap 40 and heading into Schumacher corner when he smashed into the side of the Mexican, sending his car into a barrel-roll.
Gutierrez emerged unharmed from the incident while Maldonado was given a warning and handed a five-place grid penalty for the next race in China.
Vettel wants to give Mercedes 'hard time'
Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel, second on the grid today, tells BBC Sport: "A win would be nice. We have a plan for the race but in the end we will race as hard as we can.
"Fairly soon in the race we will find out how quick we are compared to Mercedes. They are the favourites but if we can give them a hard time that would be nice."
'Major achievement' at McLaren