grand prix grand prix formally known formula gulf air grand prix formula motor race held april race fourth round season marked eleventh time run round formula world championship defending race winner came race point lead victory week prior china took 42nd pole position career saturday qualifying fourth row race hamilton managed win taking 36th race victory report background tensions mercedes team prior chinese grand prix week accused teammate deliberately backing charging race claiming compromised race hamilton turn claimed close attack assertion rejected saying try attack team reacted issuing warning drivers start managing able race best team track comments hamilton saying contract extension negotiations going slow rumours arose hamilton asked clear number status team claim denied driver team political protests previous years protests race going forward protests highlighted situation majority ruled arab country demanding release political prisoners protesters tried use arrival formula bring demands public eye race came week report published human rights violations previous years formula commercial rights executive maintained view political situation kept separate sport saying don judge country run viewed degree policy reversal formula issued statement ahead grand prix stating committed human rights countries conducts business weather weather typically hot dry temperatures friday practice session began lower temperatures expected race day race held night tyres announced supplying teams white banded medium compound tyre prime selection yellow banded soft compound option selection event free practice regulations season practice sessions held hour sessions friday hour session qualifying saturday ferrari quickest free practice session friday afternoon driver lap course mercedes team focused long runs running cars high fuel loads examine tyre wear 15th 16th places respectively ferrari showed problems early session able run issues end spun turn start flying lap unable run team tried change car battery uplifting session nonetheless button teammate finished seventh place seven tenths away fastest time china week took practice session lotus mercedes hit second session friday night leading teammate tenth second half second faster dismal session park car halfway session able come couple laps end session late red flag came braking slowly turn taking wing topped time sheets saturday free practice session tenth second completed cars took track early session high temperatures strong winds brief red flag period occurred midway practice spun turn qualifying qualifying consisted parts minutes length respectively drivers eliminated competing sessions teams including mercedes softer tyre compound session problems car practice unable set time car broke lap set fastest time second button eliminated mistake final lap pastor driver reach second qualifying session course season hamilton set time second ahead second placed went faster eliminated 14th position ahead half second slower team mate joined cars run tyres order save set race hamilton fastest cars came second final timed laps crossed line ahead going faster team mate mercedes came line hamilton took fourth consecutive pole position settle grid able beat time williams cars filled row delighted eighth grid post qualifying required apply allowed race post lap time qualifying gave permission start based satisfactory practice times race prior start confirmed unable car grid data indicated earlier electrical issues continued williams line start formation lap start pit lane start lights went long delay pastor wrong grid position start proper able hold lead teammate tried attack second place opened opportunity second ferrari outside mercedes hamilton tried open gap order cover position attempt called strategy car pits early order use tyres car overtaking track took lap end lap pit stops started lap come new tyres hamilton managed extend advantage seconds pitted runners lap strategy worked emerged pits ferrari pitted lap later hamilton changed tyres following lap emerging close battling mercedes driver taking second position aided inside turn close teammate hamilton ultimately unable attack lead pit lap applied different strategy harder medium tyres mercedes running middle stint softer tyre compound harder tyres able close tried places pit lane start caught battles went pits simultaneously pastor swift stop lotus pit crew meant able ahead gain positions driver marcus running eighth came pits lap second pit stop problems left tyre meant fell reach points finish retired race right exiting pit lane lap issue left wheel teammate joined lap electrical failure lap hamilton came second final planned stop medium tyre set worked ferrari emerged lap later ran wide exit final corner lap letting past damaging wing meaning come pits stop lap leaving fifth position teammate pitted second time lap taking softer faster tyres trying catch mercedes end race fourteen laps finish seconds second placed closing second lap mercedes having way able cut gap faster reaching laps race suffering brake entire course race turn lap allowed second place brake problems end able control gap ferrari victory season time world champion unable overtake williams fourth williams applied early race recover pit lane start eighth position tyres started passed finished tenth taking point race ended suffered engine blow final straight able coast car finish line post race podium interviews conducted conceded tough race saying gave real good run money difficult look tyres conditions sorts fortunately able car tyres healthy possible pull expressed disappointment able win said happy team working highlighted big step forward ferrari winter disappointed brake failure costing second place added happy car altogether said felt let team mistake cost chance challenge second position happy good recovery decent points race particular praise press directed returned podium time korean grand prix months prior german newspaper called drive cool application contract extension engine gave finish straight lap engine season races needed use face grid penalties added problems failed finish strain relationship engine provider quoted calling engine bit nightmare saying goal fifth place championship subsequently team boss confirmed teams agree plan decided earlier year increase engine limit taking pressure classification qualifying notes received permission start race despite setting qualifying time race notes pastor lined 18th position starting grid pushed stevens row 16th slot left vacant received second penalty result unable start car problem result remained pits altogether championship standings race note positions included sets standings
2015 Bahrain Grand Prix