Bahrain Grand Prix live: Nico Rosberg wins ahead of Kimi Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel fails to start

Re-live lap-by-lap updates from the Bahrain Grand Prix as Nico Rosberg's continues his perfect start to the 2016 season

Lewis Hamilton is hit by Valtteri Bottas at the start of the Bahrain Grand Prix

(Getty)

The second race of the 2016 Formula One season took place in Bahrain where reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton started from pole, having snatched the top spot away from his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg with his final lap in qualifying. Follow the latest here.

• Nico Rosberg wins the Bahrain Grand Prix
• Lewis Hamilton passed by team-mate on start before being hit by Valtteri Bottas
• Sebastian Vettel's Ferrari engine blows up before start
• Kimi Raikkonen finishes second ahead of Hamilton
• Daniel Ricciardo fourth and Romain Grosjean fifth

Follow the live action below...

Please allow a moment for the blog to load...

More F1 news:
Teams fail to reach agreement with FIA over new qualifying system
Hamilton snatches pole from Rosberg but qualifying woes remain
Rosberg dominates practice as Hamilton struggles to match team-mate
Alonso ruled out of Bahrain GP after Melbourne crash with Vandoorne called up

Bahrain GP grid:

1. Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) Mercedes GP 1min 29.493secs

2. Nico Rosberg(Ger) Mercedes GP 1:29.570

3. Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Ferrari 1:30.012

4. Kimi Raikkonen(Fin) Ferrari 1:30.244

5. Daniel Ricciardo(Aus) Red Bull 1:30.854

6. Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Williams 1:31.153

7. Felipe Massa(Bra) Williams 1:31.155

8. Nico Hulkenberg(Ger) Force India 1:31.620

9. Romain Grosjean (Fra) Haas F1 1:31.756

10. Max Verstappen(Ned) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:31.772

11. Carlos Sainz(Spa) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:31.816

12. Stoffel Vandoorne(Bel) McLaren 1:31.934

13. Esteban Gutierrez(Mex) Haas F1 1:31.945

14. Jenson Button(Gbr) McLaren 1:31.998

15. Daniil Kvyat(Rus) Red Bull 1:32.241

16. Pascal Wehrlein(Ger) Manor Racing 1:32.806

17. Marcus Ericsson(Swe) Sauber-Ferrari 1:32.840

18. Sergio Perez(Mex) Force India 1:32.911

19. Kevin Magnussen(Den) Renault 1:33.181

20. Jolyon Palmer(Gbr) Renault 1:33.438

21. Rio Haryanto(Ina)Manor Racing 1:34.190

22. Felipe Nasr (Bra) Sauber-Ferrari 1:34.388

Note: Kevin Magnussen has to start the race from pit lane as he failed to stop for weighing during P2 when he was signalled to do so.

[3 April 2016 13:12 · Jack de Menezes]

Good afternoon and welcome to the Independent's live coverage of the Bahrain Grand Prix, where Lewis Hamilton starts from pole position in his bid to get back on top after his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg won the season-opening race in Australia.

Already it's been a dramatic morning in Sakhir, with a meeting taking place in order to try and decide on a new (or old) qualifying system that will rectify the current debacle that has been introduced for 2016. Despite the team bosses unanimously agreeing on a return to the 2015 regulations, Bernie Ecclestone, Jean Todt and the FIA have categorically ruled out any return to last year's system and have instead offered an aggregate session in a bid to increase track time during qualifying.

Another meeting will be held on Thursday, but what it does mean is that we are no closer to finalising which qualifying session we will see in China in two weeks time.

[3 April 2016 13:47 · Jack de Menezes]

[3 April 2016 14:15 · Jack de Menezes]

[3 April 2016 14:30 · Jack de Menezes]

[3 April 2016 14:30 · Jack de Menezes]

So what happened in qualifying yesterday? Well, it wasn't as bad as it was in Australia, but it couldn't get much worse, could it? There were two very impressive performances from youngsters Pascal Wehrlein and Stoffel Vandoorne, but it was Lewis Hamilton to once again stole the show with a record final lap that just edged out his team-mate Nico Rosberg. Read the full report below.

[3 April 2016 15:39 · Jack de Menezes]

Green lights at the end of the pit lane and out head the cars for their final preparations, with the grid beginning to get busier by the second. Derek Warwick is out on the grid, having been elected the FIA steward for the Bahrain Grand Prix, and he could be in for a busy day once the lights go out.

[3 April 2016 15:41 · Jack de Menezes]

A call for help?Bernie Ecclestone pictured ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix 

[3 April 2016 15:44 · Jack de Menezes]

Fernando Alonso is another on the grid, and despite doing his best to try and stay away from the prying eyes of the media, Sky Sports F1's Martin Brundle gets a word out of him - or many words int he end. He admits it's weird and not a nice feeling to be on the grid before a race without competing, and confirms that he's "99% certain" he'll be back in his McLaren for the Chinese Grand Prix. A one-shot chance for Vandoorne, in which case.

[3 April 2016 15:46 · Jack de Menezes]

The drivers are beginning to head down to the front of the grid to honour the Bahrain national anthem.

[3 April 2016 15:47 · Jack de Menezes]

 

Formula 1

@F1

Sun going downLights going onExcitement = fever pitch15 MINS TO GO#BahrainGP ???????? https://t.co/8FV0AwZnQv

3:47 PM - 03 Apr 2016

• Reply
• Retweet
• Favorite