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."

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.

Image source, Getty Images

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."

QPR striker Charlie Austin on Twitter: Great drive by Hamilton but what a performance by Raikkonen.

Force India on Twitter: Back to the points, with merit - one more step in the right direction. Great work by drivers, crew and team!

Image source, Getty Images

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."

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.

Image source, 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 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.

Image source, Getty Images

Williams on Twitter: Sparks in the sky and on the race track. We like!

Image source, Williams

1. Mercedes 159

2. Ferrari 107

3. Williams 61

4. Red Bull 23

5. Sauber 19

6. Lotus 12

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."

Image source, MARWAN NAAMANI

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."

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."

Image source, Hassan Ammar

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

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."

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.

Rosberg speaking to Raikkonen ahead of the podium ceremony: "I lost my brakes."

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.