Summary

  • Hamilton wins after tense battle with Verstappen

  • Verstappen forced to hand lead back to Hamilton after off-track pass

  • Mazepin crashes out on first lap, Alonso out

  • Get involved: #bbcf1

Live Reporting

Michael Emons

  1. If you remember back to the Sakhir Grand Prix in December, it was rookie Jack Aitken's mid-race spin in the Williams which saw George Russell's debut for Mercedes end in tears.

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  2. Lando Norris got on the podium in the season opener in Austria in 2020 and he's eyeing that up again here in Bahrain. Great driving from him so far.

  3. 'Verstappen is irate'

    Jennie Gow
    BBC Radio 5 live pit-lane reporter

    Just listening to Max Verstappen's radio. It might be that Mercedes know he has a diffuser issue but he doesn't. He's just been on the radio saying 'I know there is an issue with this car you better bleeping find it'. He is irate in that Red Bull.

  4. And it's got even better as Norris, who just complained of being forced off track by Charles Leclerc, but the Brit gets his revenge and the fourth spot.

  5. We're back as we started with Verstappen, Hamilton, Bottas and Leclerc the top four. Then come the two McLarens with Norris in fifth and Ricciardo in sixth.

    That's a great start to the year for McLaren.

  6. Team radio - Lando Norris

    "[Charles Leclerc] forced me off."

  7. Fernando Alonso is seventh. A podium on his return after a couple of seasons out of F1? What a story that would be.

  8. 'Free stop'

    Jennie Gow
    BBC Radio 5 live pit-lane reporter

    Just looking at Pierre Gasly, they had to fit that new front wing so it was a 15.7 seconds stop. They put him on the hard tyres, Sergio Perez went onto the medium tyres when he stopped, they took advantage of the free stop.

  9. Max Verstappen's lead is at 1.4 seconds over Lewis Hamilton but it's already been a stressful day as he's reported a problem.

    Hamilton sits and waits to take advantage, if he can.

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  11. Tsunoda and Vettel came together which is what caused the damage to the German. It's like bumper cars at the back today.

  12. Team radio - Mercedes to Bottas

    "So, Verstappen ahead has a problem. Everything to play with. Come on Valtteri."

  13. 'Alonso flying'

    Jolyon Palmer
    Former Renault driver on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

    McLarens are looking good and Fernando Alonso is flying as well. He is tucked in right behind Daniel Ricciardo in sixth.

  14. Bottas is told that Verstappen has a problem. By the way, the fact we needed two formation laps because of that early problem for Sergio Perez, who has got himself up to 14th from a pitlane start, that means the race is trimmed down to 56 laps, not 57.

  15. Get Involved

    #bbcf1

    Ian Jones: Still no full racing lap, love it.

    Bibz: That Aston Martin safety car is quite sexy and a breath of fresh air weird enough, make a change from the Mercedes safety car.

  16. If the first five laps of this season are a sign of things to come then this is going to be the best year ever. We're back racing after a safety car and VSC already.

  17. Team radio - Verstappen

    "There is definitely something wrong. You better xxxx find it."

    There's a lot of panic in the Dutchman's voice.

  18. Mick Schumacher spun and takes a trip through the gravel, but he is still in the race, but 19th and miles off the pack. A tough, tough day for the Haas debutants.

  19. 'Majestic Norris'

    Jolyon Palmer
    Former Renault driver on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

    Majestic driving from Lando Norris! McLarens on the soft are flying through the field.

  20. Virtual safety car

    Sebastian Vettel has some damage, as does Pierre Gasly and Mick Schumacher may have a problem and Daniel Ricciardo may have a problem.