2012 Bahrain Grand Prix The Bahrain Grand Prix

Sebastian Vettel gets back to winning ways and the wagging finger returns after a fine tyre-preserving drive from the front.

The world champion blasted off with a great start and then it was a case of controlling the gap to the Lotus pair and team-mate Mark Webber. McLaren shot itself in the foot this time round with difficult pitstops, while Rosberg's challenge faltered with a broken exhaust.

Paul di Resta deserves a note for a great two-stop race in the Force India, while further back Michael Schumacher made good progress early on, but spent the last 30 laps of the race battling hard against Sergio Perez.

It was another action-packed grand prix, but after all is said and done there was only one winner today - Sebastian Vettel - while the rest of Formula 1 will no doubt ponder on the way home whether it was right for this event to go ahead in the first place.

This was the 2012 Bahrain Grand Prix on AUTOSPORT Live. Thanks for joining us over the last three days of action and we will be back for the sport's return to Europe and the Spanish Grand Prix, in three weeks' time.

Stick with AUTOSPORT for all the reaction from Bahrain this afternoon.

A great day for Lotus though as it finally makes the podium - with both drivers - putting the Enstone team up to third in the standings.

Red Bull is back in control of the constructors' standings, leading McLaren by nine points after a dismal day for the Woking-based team.

Webber is up to third in the standings after another fourth place finish, as Button's late retirement drops him to fourth - tied with Alonso

Vettel's win boosts him to a familiar position in the points standings - first - with Hamilton falling to second after trouble in the pits.

Two drivers officially retired from today's race. Maldonado ended his race in the garage after a severe left rear puncture, while Marussia's Charles Pic stopped out on track shortly before mid distance.

Horner joins the top three on the top step for the traditional end-of-race photograph, before the drivers head off to the press conference.

The champagne sprays on the podium at the end of a tough race.

A great day for Grosjean as he collects his maiden F1 trophy after a fine drive to third place.

Kimi Raikkonen takes his award for second place. The iceman barely cracks a smile but must be pleased with his day's work.

Team boss Christan Horner picks up the trophy for Red Bull's first victory of 2012.

Vettel is delighted as he is given the winner's award by the crown prince, with the world champion returning to the top step of the podium.

That is followed by the Austrian national anthem for today's winning constructor - Red Bull Racing.

The top three drivers walk out onto the podium to enormous cheers and the German national anthem rings out for the winner - Sebastian Vettel.

Senna was the last classified finisher in 22nd place, but he retired in the garage some laps before the end.

Button retired towards the end but was still classified in 18th place, with Glock 19th, de la Rosa 20th and Karthikeyan in 21st.

Ricciardo ended up 15th and won his race-long battle with Petrov - the Russian finishing 14 seconds behind him. Kovalainen was 17th.

Out of the points, Perez was 11th with Hulkenberg 12th. Kobayashi passed Vergne in the closing laps to take 13th.

A delighted Vettel is now sprinting down the pitlane to celebrate with his Red Bull team in parc ferme.

Alonso was just 0.2s behind the Force India as they crossed the line, with Hamilton eighth, Massa ninth and Schumacher scores a point.

Both Vettel and Rosberg have stopped at the pit exit, with fuel pushed to the limit in this fast-paced race.

Di Resta does a brilliant job to finish sixth for Force India with two stops, just holding off Alonso right at the line.

Rosberg nurses a rough-sounding Mercedes home in fifth, but faces some questions in the stewards' room later on.

Webber ends his day fourth once again in his Red Bull.

It's a brilliant third place for Grosjean as he takes his maiden podium finish for Lotus.

Raikkonen takes second place for a delighted Lotus team, having started 11th, then pressuring Vettel for much of the distance. Great drive.

Red Bull has been in fine form this weekend and it is a fine return to the top step of the podium for the world champion.

Sebastian Vettel wins the Bahrain Grand Prix!

Lap 57: Di Resta is holding off Alonso, but there is just 0.8s between them, with Vettel well into the final lap.

Lap 57: The team clears a space in the garage and Button drives straight in to retire.

Lap 57: Button is touring back to the pits with an extremely rough sounding McLaren.

Lap 57: Senna drives straight into the garage and it's game over for Williams this afternoon.

Lap 56: Vettel begins his penultimate tour with a 3.2 second lead over Raikkonen.

Lap 56: Senna pits and this is a long stop for the Brazilian.

Lap 56: Button reports that he can hear a strange noise from the engine or exhaust on the team radio.

Lap 56: Kobayashi has passed Ricciardo and takes 16th place from the Australian.

Lap 56: It is his fourth stop of the afternoon and he comes out in 13th place, after his left rear lost air pressure.

Lap 55: Button pits with a suspected puncture and he drops down the field.

Lap 55: Kobayashi rejoined after Sauber couldn't make two stops work, in 17th. He is on the tail of Ricciardo.