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Hamilton: Difficult to close gap immediately

2008 Champion Lewis Hamilton was pleased to meet his objective of finishing on the Bahrain Grand Prix podium as the season began on Sunday. The McLaren driver was yet to finish in the top three at Sakhir since doing so in his debut season three years ago but admits that the Woking outfit is not yet close enough to the front runners.

Barrichello satisfied with first point of the season

Rubens Barrichello finished Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix in tenth position scoring one point for the Williams Formula 1 team. The Brazilian though had hoped for a bit more though. His team-mate, Nico Hulkenberg, finished fourteenth.

Sauber sad not to see finish

Tipped by many as the underdogs for 2010 and generally consistent throughout pre-season testing, the Sauber team failed to make the finish of the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday as hydraulic problems struck for both Pedro de la Rosa and Kamui Kobayashi.

Double retirement for rookies Virgin

The Virgin Racing team was disappointed to have seen both of its cars retire from its first Grand Prix of the season in Bahrain on Sunday. Racing in Formula 1's first ever all-CFD designed car, rookie Lucas di Grassi retired on Lap 3 before team-mate and former Toyota driver Timo Glock stopped with with gearbox problems fourteen laps later.

Kubica regretting first-lap spin

Robert Kubica drove a strong race as the 2010 season began in Bahrain on Sunday although the Pole was disappointed to have lost out badly in the second corner incident. Blinded by plumes of smoke from Mark Webber's Red Bull, Kubica's Renault was touched by the Force India of Adrian Sutil and spun before storming back through the field to eleventh, one place from the points.

Lotus drivers pleased with progress

The Lotus team was the only 2010 debutant outfit to make the finish of the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday. With the two Hispania and Virgin cars having retired due to a selection of problems, Heikki Kovalainen was classified two laps down as Lotus elected to stop Jarno Trulli three laps from the end.

Rosberg hoping for better soft tyre performance

Nico Rosberg was pleased with his first race for Mercedes-Benz on Sunday but will be analysing tyre performances after losing time in the middle part of the Bahrain Grand Prix. The former Williams driver was the leading contender for the Stuttgart manufacturer, finishing in the top five and just under four seconds ahead of 7-time Champion team-mate Michael Schumacher.

Mixed fortunes at Force India

With Adrian Sutil starting from tenth and Tonio Liuzzi from twelfth, the Force India team was hoping for both drivers to score points. Sutil's second corner spin ruined hopes for a double top ten finish, however, while Liuzzi drove a faultless race to finish ninth.

Button reconsiders conservative approach

World Champion Jenson Button admitted at Sakhir on Sunday that he may have driven in too careful a fashion in the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix. After starting eighth on the grid at Sakhir, the McLaren driver made up one spot to seventh but could not pass the Mercedes of Michael Schumacher in the closing stages of the race.

Vettel disappointed to miss out on win

After clinching a fantastic pole position in Bahrain on Saturday, Sebastian Vettel looked all set for victory at the start of the season on Sunday and was out front at Sakhir when his exhaust broke and the Red Bull RB6 began began to lose power. Past first by Fernando Alonso, the German then lost second and third places before finishing fourth and pulling off the track.

Overtaking basically impossible, says Schumacher

Michael Schumacher was disappointed to have had a generally quiet run to sixth place on his Formula 1 return in Bahrain on Sunday. After starting seventh, the 7-time World Champion passed Mark Webber's Red Bull in the opening corners before fending off both the Australian and current Champion Jenson Button in the closing stages.

Alonso dedicates win to Ferrari team

Fernando Alonso was delighted to have clinched victory in his first race for Ferrari in Bahrain on Sunday. The Spaniard kept up the team's strong history for new drivers at the start of a season as Kimi RГ¤ikkГ¶nen also won first time out for the Maranello marque in 2007.

Alonso leads Ferrari 1-2 in Bahrain

Fernando Alonso has returned to winning ways by clinching victory in the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday. The Champion of 2005 and 2006 led home the first Ferrari 1-2 since France 2008 as Lewis Hamilton managed third for McLaren after pole man Sebastian Vettel, who led for much of the race, suffered technical problems in his Red Bull-Renault.

New engines for both Ferrari cars

With the Ferrari team having confirmed on Sunday morning that Felipe Massa's engine would be changed ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix, the Maranello squad has now revealed that team-mate Fernando Alonso has also received a new powerplant ahead of the season-opening race this afternoon.

Photos: Sunday at Sakhir

Video: Moss thanks fans for support

Sir Stirling Moss has released a video of gratitude in which he thanks his supporters following his freak accident at home last weekend. One of Britain's most successful racing drivers, the Englishman fell down a lift shaft in his Chelsea home.

Mercedes links up with Monster Energy

The Mercedes GP team has officially announced its partnership with Monster Energy drink ahead of the start of the 2010 season today. As seen at Sakhir on Saturday, the black and green logos of the brand appear on the helmets of Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg, fifth and seventh on the grid respectively.

Massa receives new engine for race

Ferrari will replace the engine of Felipe Massa ahead of the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix this afternoon. The Brazilian, twice a winner at Sakhir, has qualified on the front row of the grid alongside Sebastian Vettel and will not receive a 10-place grid drop for the change.

Hublot becomes official F1 watch supplier

Switzerland's luxury brand Hublot has become the official Formula 1 supplier of wristwatches after agreeing a deal with Formula One Management (FOM), the sport's commercial rights holder.

Mansell considering steward role

Nigel Mansell is the latest former driver who is likely to act as a race steward at a Grand Prix this year. The idea comes as part of a new initiative by FIA President Jean Todt, who has already placed 4-time Champion Alain Prost in Race Control for Bahrain.