Vettel, Raikkonen secure Bahrain repeat

The Bahrain Grand Prix saw a repeat of the 2012 race as Sebastian Vettel, Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean secured the podium places on Sunday.

Vettel enjoyed one of his more comfortable days in the sunshine as the reigning world champion cruised to the 28th win of his remarkable career at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

In taking the chequered flag for the second successive time in Bahrain, and in claiming his second victory this year, Red Bull star Vettel now has a 10-point lead over Lotus' Kimi Raikkonen.

The Finn again had to settle for the runner-up spot, as was the case last Sunday in China, but at least had team-mate Romain Grosjean for company on the podium. Astonishingly, it was the same one-two-three at the desert-based Bahrain International Circuit as it was in 2012.

Adopting a two-stop strategy, like Raikkonen, Force India's Paul Di Resta almost made it work as he conjured one of his finest drives, but in being passed by Grosjean five laps from home in the 57-lap race, it denied the Scot the first podium of his 43-race career - but at least in finishing fourth he equalled his best result.

With people tipping Fernando Alonso as the man to beat this season following his victory last Sunday in China, the double champion suggested the campaign could be a rollercoaster one if the opening four races are anything to go by.

But after seven laps, however, he was the first of the leaders to pit, not only switching from the medium-compound tyres to the hard, but primarily due to a problem with his DRS. One lap later, and with Red Bull's Mark Webber and Grosjean pitting as the first round of stops began in earnest, Alonso was in again as his DRS was lodged in the open position.

It took three mechanics to push down and snap it shut again, but with that went any hope of win number 32, the 31-year-old ultimately just scraping into the points with eighth place. It meant, once Vettel passed Mercedes' Nico Rosberg on lap three, there was only going to be one winner barring trouble.

Behind the leading quartet there was a titanic struggle for fifth as Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton and Webber went toe-to-toe for a handful of laps. The Briton ultimately held sway into turn one on the final lap where McLaren's Sergio Perez also claimed the Australian to take sixth for his best result for McLaren.

The Mexican had a few laps earlier toughed it out with Alonso, and earlier in the race with team-mate Jenson Button having listened to the words of team principal Martin Whitmarsh last week who told him to get his elbows out.

Behind Alonso, polesitter Rosberg, who had trouble with his rear tyres throughout the race, was ninth, followed by Button in 10th.

2013 Bahrain Grand Prix Final Standings

1. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)

2. Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus) - +9.100

3. RomainGrosjean (Lotus) - +19.500 

4. Paul di Resta (Force India) - +21.700

5. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) - +35.200

6. Sergio Perez (McLaren) - +35.900

7. Mark Webber (Red Bull) - +37.200

8. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) - +37.500

9. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)- +41.100

10. Jenson Button (McLaren) - +46.600

11. Pastor Maldonado (Williams)- +66.400

12. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber)- +72.900

13. Adrian Sutil (Force India) - +76.700

14. Valtteri Bottas (Williams) -+81.500

15. Felipe Massa (Ferrari)- +86.300

16. Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso) +1 lap. 

17. Charles Pic (Caterham) -  +1 lap

18. Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber) - +1 lap

19. Jules Bianchi (Marussia) - +1 lap

20. Max Chilton (Marussia)- +1 lap

21. Giedo van der Garde (Caterham) - +2 laps

Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso) - Retired