Nico Rosberg Wins 2016 Bahrain Grand Prix, Extends Championship Lead

Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg extended his championship lead to 17 points as he cruised to a comfortable win at the 2016 Bahrain Grand Prix.

Before the race started, there was drama at the Sakhir Grand Prix Circuit as smoke streamed out of Sebastian Vettel's Ferrari, forcing the German to retire from the race before it started.

Joining the German in the garages before the start of the race was Renault's British driver Jolyon Palmer, whose car was having an issue with its hydraulics.

When the race did begin, it was Rosberg who grabbed the lead, taking advantage of teammate Lewis Hamilton's slow start.

Hamilton then got T-boned by the Williams of Valteri Bottas who was penalised with a drive through penalty by the race stewards. Hamilton dropped down as low as ninth, before he started clawing his way back.

Rosberg meanwhile was running away with the race despite the best efforts of Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen who ended up in second once again at Bahrain.

Hamilton could have given Raikkonen a fight for the second spot but Mercedes messed up big time with their strategy by letting him stay out for a few extra laps after both Rosberg and Raikkonen had pitted.

Fourth spot was taken by Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo while Romain Grosjean made it yet another week to remember for Haas as he finished in fifth for the American team.

Max Verstappen's in his Torro Rosso took sixth while Daniil Kvyat of Red Bull was ahead of the two Williams of Felipe Massa and Bottas.

Stoffel Vandoorne made Bahrain a debut race to remember as he bought his Honda powered McLaren home in tenth to claim the first points of the season for the rapidly improving British team.

Rosberg now leads the 2016 championship with a perfect 50 point haul from two races and is 17 points ahead of his teammate Hamilton. Ricciardo is in third spot with 33 points, while Raikkonen and Grosjean are tied for fourth with 18 points.

Mercedes lead the Constructors Championship with 83 points, 33 ahead of Ferrari who are just 3 points ahead of Red Bull.