What a start to the F1 season. Another 22 races as dramatic as that one please.

Thanks for joining us and for all your comments as always.

That's all for today. See you in a few weeks for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. Bye for now.

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Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton held off Max Verstappen's Red Bull for victory in an extraordinary finish to the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Verstappen actually took the lead from Hamilton with four laps to go but handed the position back because he had overtaken by running off the track.

The move - an order from race control - cost the Red Bull driver the victory. Verstappen never quite got close enough again to challenge Hamilton.

It was a remarkable climax to a tense and thrilling strategic battle that bodes well for an epic season between the two men.

Verstappen complained over the radio about being ordered by his team to hand the lead back, but was told it had been an order from race control.

It's set up to be the busiest and longest F1 season ever.

We have three weeks until the next race and it's the first of two trips to Italy with Imola hosting the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix after a successful staging in a much-changed 2020.

Last season it ended in a Mercedes one-two with Lewis Hamilton finishing five seconds clear of Valtteri Bottas, with Daniel Ricciardo, then with Renault, in third.

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Six of the 10 teams pick up a point, with Williams, Haas, Alpine and Alfa Romeo leaving Bahrain empty-handed.

Mercedes, with a first, third and bonus point for fastest lap, take an early 13-point lead over Red Bull.

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Race one of a potential 23 in 2021 and this is how they stand in the drivers' championship.

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Yuki Tsunoda, who made some fearless moves including a dive down the inside from miles back on Alonso to end ninth, is going to be a huge star in this sport if he keeps on like this.

Very, very impressive.

A brilliant interview with Yuki Tsunoda just now on Sky Sports as he talked through what it felt like to overtake Fernando Alonso, a driver he looked up to as a child.

"My father is quite a big Fernando fan," he said. "He likes his driving style. The first time my dad saw Fernando was at Suzuka. He said his acceleration from the corner is the best of any driver on the grid.

"I drove with him a couple of laps and I learned from him how he managed the tyres on the corners. After I passed him I tried to copy his driving and a couple of corners were better from my car as well.

"The things I learn from him will be big for the future."

Second-placed Max Verstappen, speaking to Sky Sports: "There were a few things going on throughout the whole race. Our strategy was working fine but the problem with these cars it is so hard to pass.

"I had that one shot, went outside of the track and I then of course gave the position back and tried again but my tyres were not in the right state to put the pressure on. A shame."

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Race winner Lewis Hamilton, speaking to Sky Sports: "We came into this race knowing we were on the back foot and knowing it would be a tough start but everyone worked incredible hard to try and maximise what we had. I am incredibly grateful to everybody.

"I think ultimately if he hadn't made the mistake he probably would have won the race.

"He is a fantastic driver and they have the quicker car. That was one of the hardest I've had for a while.

"We have such a great fight ahead. This is not the end for them, they will come back in the next race. I enjoyed it and onwards and upwards from here."

Former Haas man Romain Grosjean praises the efforts of Hamilton, Norris, Perez and Tsunoda...

McLaren's Daniel Ricciardo, who came seventh, speaking to Sky Sports: "I would have liked to have been involved in the battle for the win, it sounded pretty good!

"Weekend as a whole pretty satisfied. For the race I struggled with the pace, plenty to learn from and work on."

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, speaking to Sky Sports: "A great race, a tough one to lose. It is the first of 23 so hopefully we give Lewis a harder time this year.

"Once you have that instruction you have to move out of the way. It is tough racing, it is fair racing.

"The races come thick and fast once we get going. Mercedes have been so strong over the years.

"I think the biggest winner today was the fans. It sets up a great season and I hope we see more battles between Max and Lewis this season."

Ser Liam Holman: What a spectacular finish to the Bahrain GP. If this is a portent of the type of season we are in for... oooooh!

Alice Denslow: Proper racing at the front and in the midfield - more of that to come please.

Richard Cassidy: Cast iron takeaways from the Bahrain GP ... Lewis can win in a slower car - who knew! Tsunoda really is that exciting. Stroll is a better driver than Vettel.

After 100 minutes of racing, only 0.745 seconds separate the top two.

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Valtteri Bottas, who finished third: "Disappointing for sure but a good thing for the team we got good points.

"It feels for me that it was on the defensive side and not attacking. Not ideal and I had a slow pit stop which in the end took away any opportunities.

"We managed to have two cars with different tyre choice so we could play with the strategy."

Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who finished in second place: "It's a shame but you also have to see the positive. We are really taking the fight to them, and I think that's great to start the year like that.

"I don't know what happened with the car early on. It don't think it was completely solved in the low speed corners, so we'll have al look at that. Overall, we managed to finish the race and score good points."

Race winner Lewis Hamilton: "Wow. What a difficult race that was. Stopping early we knew would be difficult but we had to cover Max, they have had an amazing performance all weekend.

"We suffered the last stint. Max was all over me at the end and I was just about able to hold him off.

"That was one of the hardest races I've had for a while.

"I definitely am. Each year they are talking about when you hit your peak and timing is everything. I think I am at that and Max is doing really well at the moment.

"I love the challenge."