Nico Rosberg cruised to his second win in a row and his first in Bahrain as he was extended his lead in the World Championship.
The German won the desert night race ahead of Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen who claimed his second successive podium in Sakhir and Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton who endured another tough Grand Prix.
The Brit had started on pole after a stunning lap but saw his hopes of victory were shattered when the lights went out. A poor launch was compounded by a shunt involving Valtteri Bottas at turn one.
The Finn was too hot into the first turn and t-boned the Mercedes resulting in front wing damage for both cars as well as damage to the floor for Hamilton. Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo also picked up damage in the incident as his front wing clipped the back of the Williams. Bottas was subsequently handed a drive through penalty for causing the collision.
The German won the desert night race ahead of Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen who claimed his second successive podium in Sakhir and Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton who endured another tough Grand Prix.
The Brit had started on pole after a stunning lap but saw his hopes of victory were shattered when the lights went out. A poor launch was compounded by a shunt involving Valtteri Bottas at turn one.
The Finn was too hot into the first turn and t-boned the Mercedes resulting in front wing damage for both cars as well as damage to the floor for Hamilton. Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo also picked up damage in the incident as his front wing clipped the back of the Williams. Bottas was subsequently handed a drive through penalty for causing the collision.
The start additionally went badly for Ferrari with Sebastian Vettel having an engine failure on the formation lap, which gave him his first Did Not Start (DNS) in Formula One. Raikkonen compounded the Scuderia’s woes with a terrible start which dropped him down the field.
Vettel wasn't the only driver who failed to make the start. Kevin Magnussen was already starting from the pit lane, but as the formation lap ended the Danes team mate Jolyon Palmer pulled into the pits to retire because of a hydraulic leak.
In the midfield it was chaos in the opening laps with multiple cars picking up damage including Carlos Sainz who picked up a puncture after making contact with Mexican Sergio Perez at turn one.
The Spaniard became the fifth and final retirement of the race with steering problem from his collision with the Force India. The Toro Rosso joined Jenson Button and Esterban Gutierrez on the sidelines along with Vettel and Palmer.
Vettel wasn't the only driver who failed to make the start. Kevin Magnussen was already starting from the pit lane, but as the formation lap ended the Danes team mate Jolyon Palmer pulled into the pits to retire because of a hydraulic leak.
In the midfield it was chaos in the opening laps with multiple cars picking up damage including Carlos Sainz who picked up a puncture after making contact with Mexican Sergio Perez at turn one.
The Spaniard became the fifth and final retirement of the race with steering problem from his collision with the Force India. The Toro Rosso joined Jenson Button and Esterban Gutierrez on the sidelines along with Vettel and Palmer.
It was another great outing for Romain Grosjean in the sister Haas as he finished in fifth place as the American team continue to impress in their debut season. The Frenchman finished ahead of Max Verstappen who had a better race in the desert than in Melbourne.
Red Bull had a strong outing at one of many tracks that doesn't suit their car. Despite having the Renault engine in their car Daniel Ricciardo finished in fourth and Daniil Kvyat went from 15th to seventh.
Stoffel Vandoorne became the first driver since four time champion Vettel to score points on in a midseason debut as the Belgian (deputising for Fernando Alonso) scored his and McLaren's first points of the season.
Victory for Rosberg gives him his fifth consecutive victory in Formula One a streak which is the same as team mate Hamilton. But will the German make it six when Formula One moves to China in two weeks?
Red Bull had a strong outing at one of many tracks that doesn't suit their car. Despite having the Renault engine in their car Daniel Ricciardo finished in fourth and Daniil Kvyat went from 15th to seventh.
Stoffel Vandoorne became the first driver since four time champion Vettel to score points on in a midseason debut as the Belgian (deputising for Fernando Alonso) scored his and McLaren's first points of the season.
Victory for Rosberg gives him his fifth consecutive victory in Formula One a streak which is the same as team mate Hamilton. But will the German make it six when Formula One moves to China in two weeks?
2016 Bahrain Grand Prix Results:-
Esterban Gutierrez DNF
Jenson Button DNF
Jolyon Palmer DNS
Sebastian Vettel DNS
- Nico Rosberg 1:33:34.696
- Kimi Raikkonen
- Lewis Hamilton
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Romain Grosjean
- Max Verstappen
- Daniil Kvyat
- Felipe Massa
- Valtteri Bottas
- Stoffel Vandoorne
- Kevin Magnussen
- Marcus Ericsson
- Pascal Wehrlein
- Felipe Nasr
- Nico Hulkenberg
- Sergio Perez
- Rio Haryanto
Esterban Gutierrez DNF
Jenson Button DNF
Jolyon Palmer DNS
Sebastian Vettel DNS