Bahrain Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton Wins Second F1 Opening Season Race

Lewis Hamilton refuted challenges from Max Verstappen for the first race win of the season and emerged the quickest in a thrilling final of the Bahrain GP. 

Verstappen engaged his Mercedes counterpart in a dramatic last-lap having started in pole at the qualifier. Both drivers chased on for the finish line in a fierce battle of supremacy on the circuit of which the Dutch driver was forced to back off and settle for second place. 

The victory marks Hamilton's second opening season race wins after his first in 2015 and he did that in 1:32:02.897s whilst his teammate Valterri Bottas came third behind their Red Bull counterpart, Verstappen. 

Speaking after the race, Hamilton could not help but confess that "was one of the hardest races" he had in recent times as he launched the campaign for record-setting F1 World Championship title.