That’s all for an incredible Sakhir Grand Prix and don’t miss Radio 5 Live’s Chequered Flag Podcast which will be available to listen to later on tonight.

We’ll be back for the last race weekend of 2020 with Abu Dhabi the final one of the calendar.

It’s a heartbreaking day for George Russell who will be reflecting on what might’ve been, but for Sergio Perez it will be a day he will never forget with the first race win of his career. Thanks for joining us and for your comments and see you again next weekend.

Race winner Sergio Perez speaking to Sky Sports: "I have never had such a good car in my career. the motivation is extremely high. It is about delivering."

We’re hearing that there is going to be a formal investigation into Mercedes’ bungled pit stops. One of the options open could be a disqualification for the Mercedes drivers.

Nervous times for Valtteri Bottas and George Russell.

Here are the full Drivers' Championship standings. At least George Russell has some F1 points next to his name now, although the stewards may yet have something to say about that.

Image source, BBC Sport

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer

Image source, EPA

Racing Point's Sergio Perez took his first Formula 1 victory in the Sakhir Grand Prix as Mercedes fumbled what should have been a debut win for George Russell.

The 22-year-old Briton, standing in for Lewis Hamilton after the world champion contracted coronavirus, was on his way to an accomplished victory before a late-race safety car.

Mercedes did not have to pit their cars, but chose to do so in what was intended to be a safety decision.

But they put the wrong tyres on Russell's car and then could not fit a new set to that of his team-mate Valtteri Bottas, who had to have his old tyres fitted back on to his car.

Russell had to stop again the next time around to fit a correct set, and the Mercedes were now down in fourth and fifth places, Bottas ahead.

Russell could still have won the race, but a puncture when he was trying to chase down Perez sent him to the back. He carved his way back up to ninth for his first F1 points, but that will be scant reward after such drama.

It was a remarkable drive by Perez, who had to pit at the end of the first lap after being hit by Ferrari's Charles Leclerc at Turn Four.

But the Mexican, who does not yet have a seat next season, drove a superb race, carving up through the field and was set for a brilliant third place before Mercedes hit trouble.

Renault's Esteban Ocon took second for his first F1 podium finish, with Lance Stroll joining Racing Point team-mate Perez on the podium.

• Read the full report here

Charles Leclerc's opening lap collision with Sergio Perez will see the Ferrari man start three places worse off than where he qualifies next week.

George Russell has tweeted...

It has been one of the greatest organisational achievements in sport this year - to have a Formula 1 season during a global pandemic.

One more to go and it's Abu Dhabi next weekend for the 17th and final race of 2020.

Image source, F1

Sergio Perez's victory means he is in a great position to finish fourth in the championship with just the one race of the season to go. Valtteri Bottas also stretches his margin over Max Verstappen to 16 points.

Image source, BBC Sport

More from George Russell, speaking to Sky about a phone call to his parents after the race: "My mum couldn't speak so put my dad on the phone. He said 'you have so much to be proud of'. I think we all feel it. It was almost a fairytale. Hopefully it puts Toto in a difficult position going forward."

More from Toto Wolff, speaking to Sky Sports about his post-race conversation with George Russell: "It was very emotional. If in your first race in a Mercedes and you should have won it for driving a monumental race, then there is not a lot you can say. This is not going to be his last attempt to win race. It is just the beginning of a fairytale that didn't work out today. I would say a new star is born."

Asked whether Russell is a future world champion: "Lewis is the absolute benchmark. No-one is anywhere near him. Today we have seen a new generation coming up that can be really strong. The sky is the limit."

And on next week's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: "We need to see how well Lewis recovers. The most important he is well. He said he is a bit better today. If he tests negative then it is his car. If the test is positive then George is in the car."

There is going to be a huge debrief and investigation into what went wrong at Mercedes. So rare to see any mistakes from them.

Sadly, as George Russell and Valtteri Bottas both found to their cost, they’re only human.

Part of the investigation may go into why they were pitted anyway for a second time. Both drivers were on hard tyres that could’ve gone the distance and they were first and second, more than 15 seconds clear of third spot.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, speaking to Sky Sports on his team's error: "Overall for us it was a colossal **** up. It simply was that one of the tyre crews didn't hear the call. It was a radio failure in the garage. The car came in, they didn't know and changed the tyre for wrong tyre.

"It was a safety stop. We could have stayed out but had the gap. You can question it but I think it was the right call. I can't even watch it.

"We overall we did a good job. Technical failures happen. We need to learn from it."

George Russell, who was cruelly denied a race win, says: "I can't really put it into words to be honest. Jumping out of the car, it wasn't a nice feeling. I have had races where victory was taken away but twice... I just couldn't believe it.

"I gave it everything I had. I was managing the race at the start and felt confident and comfortable in the opening laps. We had the muddle up in the pit stop and put us on the back foot.

"I think I could have still caught Sergio. Gutted but incredibly proud and of what we have achieved happy to have had the opportunity."

A top 10 we may never see again. No Mercedes, Red Bull or Ferrari in the top five.

Image source, F1