2012 Bahrain Grand Prix
| Race details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 4 of 20 in the 2012 Formula One season | |||
 |
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| Date | 22 April 2012 | ||
| Official name | 2012 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix | ||
| Location |
Bahrain International Circuit Sakhir, Bahrain |
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| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||
| Course length | 5.412 km (3.363 mi) | ||
| Distance | 57 laps, 308.238 km (191.530 mi) | ||
| Weather |
Sunny and hot Air Temp 27 °C (81 °F) Track Temp 33 °C (91 °F) dropping to 29 °C (84 °F) |
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| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Red Bull-Renault | ||
| Time | 1:32.422 | ||
| Fastest lap | |||
| Driver |
 Sebastian Vettel
|
Red Bull-Renault | |
| Time | 1:36.379 on lap 41 | ||
| Podium | |||
| First | Red Bull-Renault | ||
| Second | Lotus-Renault | ||
| Third | Lotus-Renault | ||
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Sunny and hot Air Temp 27 °C (81 °F)
The 2012 Bahrain Grand Prix (formally known as the 2012 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix) was a Formula One motor race held on 22 April 2012 at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir, Bahrain. It was the first time Formula One returned to Bahrain after the 2011 race was cancelled due to ongoing anti-government protests. The race, the eighth running of the Bahrain Grand Prix, was contested over 57 laps and was the fourth round of the 2012 Formula One season.
Sebastian Vettel started the race from pole position, leading into the first corner and for the majority of the race en route to victory. He was not without pressure though, as the Lotus of Kimi Räikkönen climbed the field, having started in eleventh place, and challenged for the lead before finishing second. Räikkönen's teammate Romain Grosjean took the first podium finish of his career by finishing third, after having a strong start and quickly moving into second place by overtaking Lewis Hamilton and Mark Webber. Räikkönen passed Grosjean for second place roughly halfway through the race, being on a better tyre strategy. Hamilton started on the front row, but pitstop errors and degrading tyres left him eighth; his McLaren teammate, Jenson Button, retired with two laps remaining.
As a consequence of the race, Sebastian Vettel took the lead in the Drivers' Championship from Lewis Hamilton. He became the fourth driver to top the standings from four races, and also the fourth race winner. Hamilton remained second, four points behind Vettel, whilst Webber jumped in front of Button to move into third with his fourth consecutive fourth place. Webber was just one point behind Hamilton, and Button was only five points behind him; Nico Rosberg was fifth. The Constructors' Championship was now led by Red Bull, who also took the lead from McLaren (who were now nine points behind them). Lotus F1 moved up from sixth to third in the standings after their first podium. Ferrari fell to fourth whilst Mercedes remained fifth.
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