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Formula 1 Bahrain GP

2014 Bahrain Grand Prix Sunday - Bahrain GP

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Green flag
We are racing again.
Safety car in this lap!
Lowe repeats that warning to Rosberg too.
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Mercedes top brass hit the radio: "Lewis, it's Paddy," says tech chief Lowe. "There are 10 laps left, can we make sure we bring both cars home."
BEN ANDERSON: "This safety car is not great news for the Williams drivers, who gambled on an aggressive three-stop strategy but are now stuck in the lower reaches of the top 10 and on the same tyres as those around them."
The stewards will be investigating the Maldonado/Gutierrez incident.
Looks like the safety car could be in this lap.
Magnussen's retirement was due to a gearbox failure.
EDD STRAW: "In the top 10, Rosberg, Vettel and Ricciardo are on the softs. Everyone else is on the mediums."
BEN ANDERSON: "The longer this safety car period lasts, the better things will look for those on soft tyres for the final stint. Look out for the Red Bulls coming through as Rosberg takes the fight to Hamilton."
Rosberg is doing fine for fuel, he asks if he should burn some off during the safety car to make the Mercedes lighter.
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"I've got a lot of push on the apex of corners," says Hamilton in a slightly American style, "but I don't want to go back on my brake bias."
BEN ANDERSON: "That incident between Maldonado and Gutierrez could totally swing the race. Advantage Rosberg when we go racing again."
This is the top 10 under the safety car:

1 Hamilton
2 Rosberg
3 Perez
4 Hulkenberg
5 Button
6 Vettel
7 Ricciardo
8 Massa
9 Bottas
10 Alonso
Lots of smoke/steam from Magnussen's parked McLaren as marshals wheel it behind the barriers.
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Gutierrez's description of the shunt on the radio: "Whoa! What was that??"
Magnussen parks his McLaren next to the track.
Right, this sets us up for a potentially awesome finish.

Hamilton's advantage has been eroded by this. It's now a fight to the flag, with Rosberg on the soft tyre and the leader on the medium.

Game on!
Maldonado pits again, he may well have needed a new wing after that clash. Surely one for an investigation too...
Crash
Does appear that Gutierrez was minding his own business and turning into the corner when Maldonado clipped his right rear, sending him into a double roll through the air.

The Mexican landed the right way up.
Yellow flag
The safety car has been deployed. That was inevitable.
Rosberg is in as well.
Crash
Maldonado hit the Sauber at Turn 1 as he rejoined from his pitstop, sending Gutierrez into a roll.
Hamilton pits from the lead!
Gutierrez is getting himself out of his wrecked car.
Bottas pits.
Crash
Gutierrez and Maldonado collide at Turn 2, lots of damage to the Sauber.
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"Brake later into Turn 11 for an earlier apex and better exit," Mercedes tells Rosberg.
BEN ANDERSON: "This race will all depend on whether Rosberg can overhaul Hamilton on the supposedly quicker soft tyre in the closing stages. It's going to be tense..."
Both Maldonado and Kvyat pit for the last time.
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"I need to stop soon, there are no more rear tyres," Maldonado tells Lotus.
Perez moves within a second of Bottas now. Surely the Finn has to stop soon?

Hulkenberg is 2.7s back. Button is harrying Alonso for sixth.
EDD STRAW: "Hamilton and Rosberg did exactly the same laptime to the thousandth of a second on lap 39."
Raikkonen sweeps past Maldonado, who has still only made one pit visit.
Magnussen makes his third and final stop.
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"How are we looking on fuel?" Button asks. "Looking good, JB," he is told.
BEN ANDERSON: "Williams drivers are locked into a three-stop strategy, but Force India look the smart bet for a three-four result in this race on two stops."
Massa...pits. That's a third stop, with 18 laps remaining. He's not keen on a two stopper.
Button's closing rapidly on Alonso for seventh, too. A lot happening! Who said this new era of F1 was dull?
Both Red Bulls swiftly dismissed Maldonado's two-stopping Lotus.

By: Scott Mitchell, Ben Anderson, Edd Straw, Matt Beer, Pablo Elizalde

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