2017 Bahrain Grand Prix

Championship standings

Vettel and Hamilton enter tied on 43 points each, with Vettel recognised as championship leader on a count-back. Mercedes leads Ferrari by one point in the Constructors’ Championship.

Previous race

At Shanghai, Hamilton won from start to finish — leading every lap and setting fastest lap for his third career grand slam and eleventh hat-trick, equalling Jim Clark’s record. He also equalled Alain Prost’s career total of 106 podiums. Vettel recovered from a virtual safety car pit stop that had dropped him to sixth, ultimately finishing second. Verstappen started sixteenth and finished third. Hamilton’s win cancelled out Vettel’s Australia advantage, leaving them level.

Entrants

Pascal Wehrlein returns to competition with Sauber after missing the opening two rounds due to his Race of Champions injury. Antonio Giovinazzi, who replaced him in Australia and China, resumes testing and reserve duties for Ferrari.