Vettel wins action-packed Grand Prix

Sebastian Vettel has won an action packed Bahrain Grand Prix, securing his second win of the 2013 season in a race filled with action from the start. Vettel was quick to put his Red Bull to the front of the pack, and then pulled away leaving the competition to fight for the places behind.

In a completely coincidental repeat of the 2012 Bahrain Grand Prix podium, Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean pushed through the field to finish second and third; Grosjean denying Paul di Resta his first podium finish by passing the Scot with just six laps remaining in the race.

As the red lights went out in Sakhir, Vettel asserted himself quickly, forcing pole sitting Nico Rosberg to defend his position heavily. Fernando Alonso, trying to make the most of the situation, put his Ferrari briefly into second before Vettel surged past with an impressive overtaking manoeuvre going into Turn 5.

Attempting a move on Rosberg on the second lap, Vettel would run wide going into turn 4. The next pass would stick though, and Vettel pulled away into the distance from that point.

Fernando Alonso had what can only be described as an eventful, yet hugely impressive race in Bahrain. Putting himself into second position, Alonso’s DRS jammed open forced him to make an emergency pit stop. Though Ferrari were able to rectify the problem, the solution was only temporary before the flap was jammed open again. Having to stop for a second time to close the DRS panel, Alonso quickly found himself two pit stops down, in nineteenth place, and with no functional DRS system.

Paul di Resta looked to have his first podium finish of his Formula 1 career when a strong drive saw the Force India driver hold a podium finishing position for much of the back half of the race. Di Resta would lose out to Kimi Raikkonen after his final stop of the afternoon though when Raikkonen passed having stopped earlier.

Saving his medium compound tyres for the final stint of the race, Grosjean was then able to easily manage, hunt down, and pass di Resta for the third place finish. Di Resta would ultimately finish fourth, scoring some much needed Championship points for himself and for Force India.

Behind the front four, the action was on-going and excited as much of the grid fought wheel to wheel for track position. There were countless overtaking opportunities throughout the race, and only one retirement which came from the Toro Rosso of Jean-Eric Vergne. The difference in pace between the medium and hard Pirelli compounds meant that individual drivers found their pace at different times during the race, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats as positions on track changed regularly.

After a quiet start to the race, Lewis Hamilton finished in fifth for Mercedes. Sergio Perez, who spent much of his grand prix racing in close proximity with teammate Jenson Button, finished in sixth overall. At one point in the race, Button reported to the McLaren team that Perez had ‘hit him’ and requested the team ask the younger driver to ‘calm down’. Disaster was avoided though, with both McLaren’s making it to the finish line.

Mark Webber, passed by both Hamilton and Perez on the final lap, finished seventh. Looking at one point like he may be a podium contender, his tyres would not last on the final stint, dropping him down the pack car by car.

Despite everything that happened today, Fernando Alonso’s ‘never give up’ attitude saw him finish eighth overall, a place well-earned considering the Ferrari sat towards the back end of the pack at one point during the race. Pole sitter Nico Rosberg would finish in ninth whilst the McLaren of Jenson Button scored the remaining Championship point available today.

Felipe Massa struggled in Bahrain today, suffering from two right rear punctures on separate occasions, and finished fifteenth for the day. Massa also came into contact with Force India’s Adrian Sutil on the first lap, resulting in a puncture for Sutil who would settle for thirteenth as the chequered flag fell.

Towards the back of the pack, Charles Pic proved that Caterham’s updates are really coming into effect. Pic finished in seventeenth, ahead of Sauber’s Gutierrez, both Marussia cars of Bianchi and Chilton and teammate van der Garde.

Sebastian Vettel now leads the Drivers’ World Championship with 77 points – 10 points ahead of second placed Kimi Raikkonen and 27 points ahead of Lewis Hamilton in third. Red Bull Racing currently lead the Drivers’ World Championship with 109 points.

The Formula 1 calendar resumes three weeks from now on the weekend of May 10 – 12, for the Formula 1 Gran Premio de Espana 2013.

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