In a fascinating conclusion to the opening race of the year, five times world champion Lewis Hamilton won the season-opening Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix, after a nail-biting final five laps, crossing the line just 0.7 seconds ahead of rival Max Verstappen.
Putting a stopper on the Red Bull’s charge, Hamilton defied the odds to hold off Verstappen and win the Bahrain Grand Prix.
His team mate Valtteri Bottas set the fastest lap of one minute 32.090 seconds, while taking third place, nine seconds ahead of Bahrain-owned McLaren’s Lando Norris.
Following the big win, Hamilton said: "Wow. What a difficult race that was. Stopping early we knew would be difficult but we had to cover Max, they have had an amazing performance all weekend."
"We suffered the last stint. Max was all over me at the end and I was just about able to hold him off. "That was one of the hardest races I've had for a while," he stated.
"I definitely am. Each year they are talking about when you hit your peak and timing is everything. I think I am at that and Max is doing really well at the moment. I love the challenge," he added.
Verstappen appeared to have won the grand prix after driving past Hamilton around the outside of Turn 4, with just three laps remaining, said media reports.
But the Dutchman was instructed by his team to give the position back to Hamilton, fearing their star driver would be penalised by the stewards for running off the track.
Hamilton then managed to keep Verstappen at arm's length for the concluding laps to win the 96th race of his life in his pursuit of an unprecedented eighth world title.
A strangely tactical race appeared to fall in the direction of the Red Bull driver, only for Hamilton to produce one of the great defensive drives of his life.
In a titanic scrap, Verstappen almost passed Hamilton with three laps remaining. Hamilton refused to budge. Verstappen ran wide at Turn 4 as they contested the lead.
Standing with his hands on his hips, Verstappen, who started from pole position, said: "It is a shame but you have to see the positive because we are taking the fight to them."
