Hamilton extends F1 championship lead to 27 points over teammate Rosberg post Bahrain GP win

Reigning Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton dominated the race tracks in the Bahrain Grand Prix to extend his championship lead to 27 points over Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg, who was beaten to second by Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen.

Hamilton led from the start and was always in control as he took his third victory in four races this season, while Rosberg was left battling the Ferraris throughout and lost second to Raikkonen with a braking problem with two laps to go.

Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel wrecked his podium chances by going off track and damaging his car while racing Rosberg, the BBC reported.

Raikkonen, who nipped past Rosberg at the start of the penultimate lap when the German ran too deep into Turn One, put in an impressive drive on an alternative tyre strategy to move up from fourth place on the grid.

However, Hamilton remained out of reach at the front under the lights at the Sakhir track on a windy desert night. Rosberg, meanwhile, dropped to fourth at the start from third place on the grid but set about quickly dispatching the Ferraris, passing Raikkonen on lap four and Vettel four laps later, but eventually he was beaten by Raikkonen.

Behind the top three, Bottas managed to hold off Vettel for fourth despite heavy pressure in the closing laps, while Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo finished sixth despite his engine exploding as he headed for the finish line, ahead of the Lotus of Romain Grosjean and Force India's Sergio Perez, the report added.