Brit Jenson Button wins Bahrain Grand Prix

The current points leader, driving for Brawn-Mercedes, won by 7.187 seconds over Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel. Jarno Trulli of Toyota was third.

Button started fourth but was up to third by the start of the second lap, crucially fighting off a challenge from Lewis Hamilton's improving McLaren.

Button chased the leading Toyotas hard early on and moved into a lead he never lost when they made their pit stops.

In the decisive moment of the race, Button was able to take advantage of a mistake by Hamilton at the end of the first lap to pass the McLaren impressively and move into third place at Turn One on the second lap.

Consequently, Button emerged in the lead after the first pit stops and was able rapidly to extend his advantage while Vettel was held up behind Trulli.

The result gives Button a 12-point lead in the drivers' championship, with a two-week break before the series heads to Europe.

The race was completed in very dry conditions, under a clear and sunny sky. This left the drivers debating between using hard and soft tires, with most choosing to finish the race on the firmer ones.