Lewis Hamilton cruises to Bahrain GP win, Raikkonen second

Lewis Hamilton took a controlled win in the Bahrain Grand Prix as team-mate Nico Rosberg 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.

Rosberg battled 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.

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.

But Hamilton was out of reach at the front under the lights at the Sakhir track on a windy desert night.

Mercedes had expected a challenge from Ferrari during the race but Hamilton, after converting pole position into a lead at the first corner, was always in control as he set about building a lead while also protecting his tyres.

Rosberg, meanwhile, dropped to fourth at the start from third place on the grid but set about quickly dispatching the Ferraris, ing Raikkonen on lap four and Vettel four laps later.

Hamilton was nearly six seconds clear of Rosberg and a further two ahead of Vettel when the lead Ferrari made its first pit stop on lap 13.

Mercedes had to respond with Rosberg, but still failed to prevent Vettel getting back into second. Rosberg, though, ed Vettel to take second again at the start of the next lap.

The two laps between Vettel's first stop and Hamilton's meant that the world champion reed the track with Rosberg and Vettel right behind him, prompting Hamilton to ask: "What happened to my lead">