Postpublished at 16:51 British Summer Time 16 April 2017
Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer in Bahrain
Mercedes confirm Bottas instructed to let Hamilton through. Obviously realising victory was being put in jeopardy.
Summary
Vettel wins, Hamilton 2nd, Bottas 3rd
Hamilton given time penalty for obstructing Ricciardo
Verstappen suffers brake failure
Vandoorne, Magnussen, Verstappen, Sainz, Stroll, Ericsson out
Get involved #bbcf1
Postpublished at 16:51 British Summer Time 16 April 2017
Postpublished at Lap 25/57
That looks to be the case as Lewis Hamilton passes Valtteri Bottas into Turn 1 and sets about closing in on race leader Sebastian Vettel, who is 6.3 seconds up the road.
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 16:48 British Summer Time 16 April 2017
Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer in BahrainMercedes might have to think about swapping Bottas and Hamilton here. Bottas won't win at this rate. Hamilton can.
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at Lap 24/57
"I have never raced with less power in my life," complains Fernando Alonso as Jolyon Palmer and Dannil Kvyat pass the ailing McLaren.
Postpublished at 16:45 British Summer Time 16 April 2017
Postpublished at Lap 23/57
Kimi Raikkonen dives down the inside of Felipe Massa into Turn and pinches fourth place.
It's been a yoyo race for Raikkonen but he is back in contention for the podium again.
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at Lap 22/57
Race control says the incident between Lance Stroll and Carlos Sainz will be investigated after the race.
Meanwhile Fernando Alonso is currently 12th but has Jolyon Palmer and Daniil Kvyat right behind him...
Postpublished at 16:43 British Summer Time 16 April 2017
Tom Clarkson
BBC Radio 5 live commentatorIs Hamilton going to have to pit again?
In terms of tyre wear, the softs should get to the end of the Grand Prix but the limiting factor could be thermal degradation - the track temperature is 5C cooler than it has been this whole weekend so no one really knows how they will last.
Postpublished at Lap 21/57
Sebastian Vettel is told over team radio that Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas are going to swap positions.
"I can't catch him," says Hamilton over his radio, however.
Hamilton is 1.1 seconds behind Bottas.
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at Lap 20/57
Lewis Hamilton has been handed a five second penalty for his part in that incident on the entry to the pits with Daniel Ricciardo.
Image source, Getty Imagesget involved Get Involvedpublished at 16:39 British Summer Time 16 April 2017
#bbcf1
Reece Young: Hamilton sticking with Bottas despite being on the slower tyre. Wonderful stuff.
Gemma: There's some stonking racing going on by Valtteri Bottas! Go man, go!
Sophie Maton: What a spicy race this is turning out to be & only on lap 19.
Postpublished at Lap 19/57
Sebastian Vettel and Valtteri Bottas, first and second respectively, are both on super-softs so will both have to pit again but Lewis Hamilton, on softs, should be able to get to the end of the race. Will take some mighty careful tyre management and steely nerves for the final few laps to do that if he is leading, though.
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 16:37 British Summer Time 16 April 2017
Mark Gallagher
BBC Radio 5 live Formula 1 analystBrave stuff from all of the front runners! Sebastian Vettel having to really hold his nerve in the face of immense pressure from Valtteri Bottas!
And didn't Lewis Hamilton make the most of that re-start managing to get the jump on Daniel Ricciardo.
Exciting stuff!
Image source, getPostpublished at Lap 18/57
Kimi Raikkonen is the next to inflict punishment on Daniel Ricciardo as the Finn cruises down the inside of the Red Bull to take P5.
"Don't worry, the tyres will come good," Red Bull try to reassure Riccardo. Not sure he is convinced!
Postpublished at Lap 17/57
The safety car comes in and Lewis Hamilton absolutely nails it on the restart! He's up to third, getting the jump on Daniel Ricciardo at Turn 1.
Ricciardo is only going backwards! He is struggling for grip on those softs and now Felipe Massa passes him into fourth.
The order at the moment is:
1) Vettel 2) Bottas 3) Hamilton 4) Massa 5) Ricciardo
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at Lap 16/57
Daniel Ricciardo and Lewis Hamilton both took on softs on their stop but Valtteri Bottas slapped on a new set of super-softs.
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 16:31 British Summer Time 16 April 2017
"Did Hamilton slow down in front of you," Daniel Ricciardo is asked. "Can you confirm that?"
"Yes," replies Ricciardo.
Postpublished at 16:31 British Summer Time 16 April 2017
Postpublished at Lap 16/57
It was also a slow stop for Lewis Hamilton and it could get worse for the Briton. Stewards confirm that a pit entry incident involving Hamilton and Daniel Ricciardo is under investigation.
It looks like Hamilton slowed unduly ahead of Ricciardo. Could be a penalty coming his way.
Postpublished at 16:29 British Summer Time 16 April 2017
Mark Gallagher
BBC Radio 5 live Formula 1 analystIt looked as though both Bottas and Hamilton were delayed in those pit stops! Vettel had managed to leap frog both the Mercedes.
We wanted plenty of action and we've got plenty of action.
This safety car has played perfectly into Ferrari's hands!