|
The win, from pole position, was the 95th of
seven-times world champion Hamilton's career and came with the
safety car leading the field to the chequered flag.
Red Bull's Max Verstappen finished second with Thai team mate
Alexander Albon completing the podium in the floodlit race at
Sakhir after inheriting third place from Racing Point's Sergio
Perez who suffered a blown engine three laps from the end.
Hamilton, who clinched the title in Turkey two weeks ago, has
now won the last five races and 11 of the 15 so far this season.
The race around the floodlit Sakhir track was halted seconds
after the start when Grosjean’s Haas was ripped in half and
engulfed in flames as it speared through protective barriers
following contact with the AlphaTauri of Daniil Kvyat.
The Frenchman, who managed to free himself from the wreckage and
jump clear, was taken to a nearby hospital with minor burns and
suspected broken ribs.
He was voted ‘Driver of the Day’ by fans.
The race was halted for an hour and 20 minutes as track workers
repaired the barriers.
Drama ensued immediately at the restart when Lance Stroll’s
Racing Point was flipped upside down after contact with Kvyat.
The Canadian climbed out unscathed and the safety car was
deployed so his car could be removed.
The race settled into a procession when it eventually resumed
for good, with Hamilton unchallenged on his way to his fourth
win in Bahrain.
Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz took fourth and fifth for McLaren,
allowing the Woking-based squad to vault into third in the
overall team standings ahead of Racing Point, with Pierre Gasly
sixth for AlphaTauri.
Daniel Ricciardo was seventh for Renault ahead of the Mercedes
of Valtteri Bottas, who made a poor start and then suffered a
puncture in yet another nightmare weekend for the Finn.
Esteban Ocon was ninth in the other Renault with Charles Leclerc,
who earned the ire of Ferrari team mate Sebastian Vettel after
making an opportunistic move on him, rounding out the top 10.
(Reporting by Abhishek Takele; Editing by Clare Fallon)
[© 2020 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2020 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
 |
|
