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. 'First crack from Hamilton'

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

    Ran wide on the exit of Turn 10. He's lost half a second. That is the first crack there from Hamilton.

  2. Verstappen in attack range.

  3. Six tenths and dropping - that's the Hamilton lead. Four laps to go.

  4. 'An interesting, intriguing, entertaining race'

    Jack Nicholls
    BBC Radio 5 Live F1 commentator

    A superb end to the Bahrain Grand Prix so far. A really interesting, intriguing, entertaining 50 laps of racing and we still have six of them to go.

    This is the key moment, can Verstappen break through the dirty air and get to within DRS range of Hamilton?

  5. Five laps to go in the season opener and there is only ONE second between the top two. Hamilton leads, Verstappen hunting him down.

    Great drama.

  6. Get Involved

    #bbcf1

    Andrew Morris: Quietly impressive drive by Perez to drag his Red Bull up to 8th. Hopefully he can sort out qualifying and we can have a real battle at the front for once. This is an F1 year that's shaping up to be one for the ages.

    Daniel: Whatever happens now, this has really set the scene for a fascinating 2021 season in prospect.

  7. Hamilton goes wide, he gets back on track but that brings Verstappen a bit closer.

  8. Another lap ticks by. Five more to go.

  9. Verstappen is now 1.4 seconds adrift. We're going to be wheel-to-wheel very, very soon.

  10. 'Now it is about going to the flag'

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

    They are both working so hard - great drive from both Hamilton and Verstappen here. We've been talking undercuts but now this is about going to the flag and making the move stick.

  11. Team radio - Red Bull to Verstappen

    "We're going to leave you to it. Let us know if you need anything."

  12. Under two seconds. Red Bull say they will leave Verstappen to it.

    The two best drivers in the world, going head-to-head in a six-lap showdown for the race win.

    Brilliant entertainment. Why we all love this great sport.

  13. Team radio - Mercedes to Hamilton

    Mercedes: "Ok, Verstappen now the car behind."

    Hamilton: "Leave me to it, Bono!"

  14. Get Involved

    #bbcf1

    Danny Jones: We wanted a fight, we certainly got it, everyone on the edge of their seats!

    Charles F1: Vettel is the F1 version of Mourinho, was once a great .. not so much anymore.

  15. The gap is only 2.3 seconds between Hamilton and Verstappen. "Leave me it to it, Bono," is the message from the world champion, who can't be dealing with any radio chat now.

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  17. How it stands

    In the points - Hamilton, Verstappen, Bottas, Norris, Leclerc, Perez, Ricciardo, Sainz, Stroll, Tsunoda.

    Next in line: Raikkonen, Giovinazzi, Ocon, Vettel, Russell.

  18. The gap at the front is less than three seconds.

    Can Hamilton hang on? It's win number 96 of his career if he can, while Verstappen still very much has a chance of race victory number 11.

  19. Get Involved

    #bbcf1

    Lee: Vettel man that was a shocker, four-time world champion and he’s driving into the back of people like that?!

  20. 'Hamilton doing a good job'

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

    Tell you what, Lewis Hamilton is making a good job of this. He is digging so deep right now to just keep those tyres alive with a good pace. That gap is starting to stabilise.

    Ten laps to go, four seconds is the gap - it is a thriller!