Lewis Hamilton pips Max Verstappen to win Bahrain F1 Grand Prix

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton held off Max Verstappen’s Red Bull for victory in the Bahrain Grand Prix. Verstappen who initially took the lead from Hamilton with four laps to go but brutally hand the position back because he had overtaken by running off the track, a move which cost him victory.

Verstappen converted his pole into a lad at the start, but Hamilton moved in front when Mercedes stopped him earlier to go for the fresher tyres which gave Hamilton track position, and kept it through his second pit stop.

Red Bull decided to run Verstappen 11 laps longer to give him a tyre advantage at the end of he race, and he stopped with 18 laps to go, setting up a grand finish.

Verstappen who was on Hamilton’s tail with five laps to go, passed him a lap later around the outside at Turn Four.  But a flick of oversteer as he went around Hamilton took him wide, breaking the rule that said drivers had to stay the right side of the exit kerb on the outside of the corner.  Verstappen was immediately told to let Hamilton by which he did on the straight down to Turn 11. Verstappen look  to climb back on Hamilton’s tail and do the move again, but as his pace dropped Hamilton had just enough to hold him off to take the 96^th victory of his career.

Bahrain Grand Prix result

1 Lewis Hamilton   Mercedes

2 Max Verstappen  Red Bull

3 Valtteri Bottas      Mercedes