Seb reigns supreme in Bahrain

SEBASTIAN VETTEL retained his title at the Bahrain Grand Prix after coasting to victory ahead of Lotus duo Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean.

The three-time world champion bossed this race from the third lap after leapfrogging pole-sitter Nico Rosberg.

He then set about stretching out an unassailable lead to open up a 10-point gap in the drivers’ championship over Raikkonen.

Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso produced a brilliant drive to finish eighth, despite suffering mechanical problems, while Lewis Hamilton had to settle for fifth in his Mercedes.

KING OF THE DESERT ... Vettel on the way to victory

Paul Di Resta was an excellent fourth in his Force India, matching his career best.

Meanwhile, Jenson Button finished down in 10th place after a running battle with team-mate Sergio Perez, who was sixth.

Vettel said: “It was a fantastic race. It was a seamless race from start to finish. I knew it was crucial to get into the lead and stay ahead.

”It was a beautiful race where we were able to push and look after the tyres.”

Rosberg made a great start from pole position and managed to fight off the challenge from Vettel, who was darting across the track trying to get into turn one.

Alonso also made a quick start and enjoyed a battle with Vettel, while further back Adrian Sutil had a coming together with Felipe Massa.

HAM-STRUNG ... Lew was battling after a five-place penalty

And it was also a poor start from Hamilton, who started in ninth after picking up a five-place gearbox penalty ahead of qualifying.

The Brit suffered a puncture in his rear tyre during P3 which also damaged his suspension and his mechanics needed to remove his gearbox to fix the problem, triggering the punishment.

Hamilton was quickly passed by former team-mate Button and his replacement at McLaren, Perez, also squeezed past.

The Brit was running in 11th by lap three and there was a fantastic battle unfolding ahead as Rosberg did his best to hold off Vettel's rampant Red Bull.

Alonso was cautiously waiting in the wings with the best seat in the house of the two Germans’ slugging it out until Vettel finally got past.

But the Spaniard’s race was soon effectively over as he fell victim to another mechanical problem.

Alonso was forced to retire in Malaysia when he suffered a broken front wing on the first lap and withdrew a lap later when it fell off.

LO RIDER ... Romain Grosjean is congratulated by team-mates after the race

This time he suffered when the rear wing on his DRS system was locked in the open position, forcing him into the pits on lap eight.

His mechanics shut the flap manually but the problem returned when he made it back to the track.

He pulled back into the pits and again his team closed the device but it meant he could not benefit from using it for the remainder of the race.

Team-mate Massa was also having a torrid time as he suffered front wing damage and then a shredded rear tyre on lap 18.

It was similar problem to the one Hamilton suffered on Saturday, but at least he was able to carry on after a tyre change.

One driver who could not continue was Toro Rosso’s Jean-Eric Vergne, who clattered into Giedo van der Garde’s Caterham and was forced to retire.

As Vettel pressed ahead in front, there was a pulsating battle between Button and Perez over laps 30 to 33.

First, Perez clipped the rear of Button’s car and lost part of his front wing.

And then the two went wheel-to-wheel two laps later, forcing Perez onto the gravel.

BULL FIGHTER ... Vettel is bidding for a fourth title

Massa’s hopes of a decent finish were well and truly extinguished when he suffered another rear blowout.

And Rosberg was lucky to remain on the track when he was side-swiped by Mark Webber as the Aussie made his way out of the pits.

A late flurry of pitstops changed the order once more, with the exception of Vettel, who was still streaking ahead in his Red Bull.

But it played into the hands of Di Resta, running in third place with just 10 laps remaining.

However, the Brit, who was looking for his first podium in his F1 career, was soon reeled in by Grosjean and the Frenchman finally went past with just five laps remaining.

Hamilton and Perez then overtook Webber on the final lap to snatch some crucial points from the Red Bull driver.