WORLD Champion Sebastian Vettel, who had started from pole position for the first time this season after a record 15 starts from the top slot last year, made his trademark single-finger salute for the first time since last year after taking the chequered flag at the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix.

 

The 24-year-old German’s 22nd career triumph, and his first at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, made him the fourth different winner in four races – the first time that has happened since 2003.

 

'I think it was an incredible race. It was a difficult race too, extremely tough,' said Vettel, who closed his eyes and took a deep breath as he stood on the podium before taking a gulp of the winner’s non-alcoholic fizz.

 

Organisers put the Sunday attendance at 50,000 with a three-day crowd of 80,000. Vettel now has 53 points, ousting McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton from the top. The Briton, who finished eighth after two nightmare pit stops, has 49. Champions Red Bull also overtook McLaren in the constructors’ battle.

 

F1 driver standings

 

1. Sebastian Vettel (Germany) Red Bull 53 points    
2. Lewis Hamilton (Britain) McLaren 49     
3. Mark Webber (Australia) Red Bull 48     
4. Jenson Button (Britain) McLaren 43     
5. Fernando Alonso (Spain) Ferrari 43     
6. Nico Rosberg (Germany) Mercedes GP 35     
7. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) Renault 34     
8. Romain Grosjean (France) Renault 23     
9. Sergio Perez (Mexico) Sauber 22     
10. Paul Di Resta (Britain) Force India 5     
11. Bruno Senna (Brazil) Williams 14     
12. Kamui Kobayashi (Japan) Sauber 9      
13. Jean-Eric Vergne (France) Toro Rosso 4      
14. Pastor Maldonado (Venezuela) Williams 4      
15. Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) Toro Rosso 2      
16. Nico Huelkenberg (Germany) Force India 2      
17. Felipe Massa (Brazil) Ferrari 2      
18. Michael Schumacher (Germany) Mercedes GP 2      
19. Timo Glock (Germany) Marussia 0      
20. Charles Pic (France) Marussia 0      
21. Vitaly Petrov (Russia) Team Lotus 0      
22. Heikki Kovalainen (Finland) Team Lotus 0      
23. Pedro de la Rosa (Spain) HRT 0      
24. Narain Karthikeyan (India) HRT 0

 

Constructor  standings

 

1. Red Bull - Renault 101 points
2. McLaren - Mercedes     92
3. Lotus - Renault 57     
4. Ferrari 45     
5. Mercedes 37     
6. Sauber - Ferrari 31     
7. Williams - Renault 18     
8. Force India - Mercedes 17     
9.Toro Rosso - Ferrari 6      
10. Marussia - Cosworth    0      
11. Caterham - Renault     0      
12. HRT - Cosworth         0