The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Vettel extends lead in chaotic Bahrain GP
Sebastian Vettel held off a thrilling late challenge from Valtteri Bottas to win the Bahrain Grand Prix and extend his lead over Lewis Hamilton at the World Championship summit.
Hamilton, who started only ninth, completed the podium places after Kimi Raikkonen retired following a nasty collision with one of his own mechanics during a pit stop.
The mechanic was knocked down and taken to the medical centre with a broken leg in an incident which was not out of place during a chaotic race under the floodlights of the Sakhir circuit.
Vettel was on a different strategy to both the Mercedes cars but masterfully managed his less durable tyres over the line to finish half a second clear of Bottas and claim his second win in as many grands prix.
Pole-sitter Vettel was the fastest out of the blocks to retain his lead but Bottas got the jump on Raikkonen to split the Ferraris.
Hamilton, out of position on the grid following an unscheduled gearbox change, failed to make any ground on the opening lap before losing a place to a faststarting Fernando Alonso.
It looked as though it could get even worse for Hamilton after Max Verstappen’s less than idyllic start to the season took another troubled turn following a collision with Hamilton on lap two.
The 20-year-old Red Bull driver, who started 15th following his qualifying crash, sensed blood in his pursuit of the defending champion, but his no-holds barred move cost him dearly.
With his elbows firmly out, Verstappen lunged underneath Hamilton at the opening bend but did not account for Fernando Alonso, who was hogging the apex.
In avoiding the McLaren driver, he inadvertently banged wheels with a helpless Hamilton.
Hamilton avoided damage, but the same could not be said for Verstappen as he sustained an ultimately terminal left-rear puncture.
Bottas had been slowly starting to reel Vettel in but, despite a late lunge on the opening bend of the last lap, the Ferrari driver made his tyres last to hang on for yet another victory.
Hamilton, who had trouble with his radio, crossed the line six seconds further back.