The 2015 Bahrain Grand Prix on April 19, 2015, at the Bahrain International Circuit, marked a strategic battle under the Sakhir floodlights, showcasing Mercedes' continued strength while highlighting Ferrari's re-emerging threat in the turbo-hybrid era.
Qualifying
Qualifying set the stage for a Mercedes front-row lockout, with Lewis Hamilton securing pole position. Nico Rosberg started from third, just behind Sebastian Vettel in the Ferrari. Kimi Räikkönen, starting fourth, positioned his Ferrari well to challenge the front runners. The grid reflected the early season pecking order, with Williams' Valtteri Bottas in fifth, demonstrating their consistent pace. Notably, McLaren's Jenson Button faced an ERS issue that prevented him from even starting the race, a stark indicator of the team's struggles in this period, a situation that would often lead to similar reliability challenges for other teams, as seen in the 2018 British Grand Prix.
Race
From the outset, Hamilton managed to maintain his lead, controlling the pace. The race, run over 57 laps, quickly evolved into a strategic chess match, particularly behind the leading Mercedes. Kimi Räikkönen, who started fourth, demonstrated exceptional tire management and race craft. His ability to extend tire life and then execute a late-race charge was pivotal, culminating in a second-place finish, just over three seconds behind Hamilton. Rosberg, despite starting third, finished in the same position, indicating a more challenging race for him compared to his teammate, grappling with brake issues towards the end. Sebastian Vettel, starting second, ultimately finished fifth after a strategic error that saw him attempt an early pit stop, only to be forced to make an unscheduled third stop due to tire degradation, allowing Bottas to move up to fourth.