---
title: "Driver Ratings: 2018 Bahrain Grand Prix"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2018/04/09/driver-ratings-2018-bahrain-grand-prix/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Kyran Gibbons"
section: "F1 News"
published: "2018-04-09T06:47:01Z"
modified: "2018-04-09T18:10:26Z"
---

# Driver Ratings: 2018 Bahrain Grand Prix

Sebastian Vettel claimed a second consecutive victory in Formula 1’s fledgeling 2018 season by winning the Bahrain Grand Prix despite being on a compromised strategy.

Ferrari had committed to a two-stop on Vettel’s car. Mercedes, meanwhile, opted to use the hardest tyre of the allocation, fitting the medium compound to both Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton – who was recovering from his five-place grid penalty – at the opening pitstop, making their race a one-stop and performing what looked like a “checkmate” strategic move against Vettel.

Tasked with stretching his tyres beyond mileage recommendations, Vettel switched to a one-stop himself and defied a late challenge from Bottas to win. Hamilton finished third after starting ninth following his gearbox penalty.

Elsewhere, Pierre Gasly recorded a remarkable fourth-place finish for the Honda-powered Toro Rosso to scoop a critical 12 points as F1’s frenetic midfield battle appeared to tighten yet further.

Here’s how we rated each drivers’ performance over the Bahrain GP weekend.