2018 Bahrain Grand Prix

Sebastian Vettel took a dramatic victory in Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix as Ferrari made a bold one-stop strategy work to fend off charging Mercedes Formula 1 drivers Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton in the closing stages.

Recapping all the additional stories and nuggets of news on a busy day in Bahrain, Crash.net F1 Editor Luke Smith brings you his Paddock Notebook.

Valtteri Bottas admits he found it "disappointing" not to have secured a place on the front row of the Formula 1 grid for the Bahrain Grand Prix as Mercedes struggled to match Ferrari for pace through qualifying on Saturday.

The FIA has approved Pirelli's plans to reduce the tread of its Formula 1 tyres for three races through the 2018 season due to the new asphalt that has been laid at the circuits.

Kimi Raikkonen closed out practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix as the fastest driver after leading FP3 on Saturday afternoon for Ferrari, while rivals Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton had difficult sessions.

Sebastian Vettel says Ferrari has made progress in Bahrain to rectify the balance issues which affected him during the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. 

Shortly after the official press release outlining Formula 1’s aims for the future of the sport was published, a spoof wish list started doing the rounds online: “More noise; more overtaking; more exciting; more cake; more money; more sunshine; more mascots…”

Daniel Ricciardo does not think that Valtteri Bottas' block during second practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix on Friday night is worth a penalty despite saying the move was "not cool".

Kimi Raikkonen led Ferrari to the top of the timesheets in second Formula 1 practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix on Friday night before being sidelined late in the session due to a loose wheel.

Follow Crash.net's live coverage of second practice for the 2018 Bahrain Grand Prix.  F1 Bahrain GP - FP2 LIVE 

Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer says he is "extremely pleased" with the proposals put forward for Formula 1's 2021 regulations, meeting many of the requirements for the British manufacturer to enter the sport as an engine supplier.

Daniel Ricciardo made an impressive start to the Bahrain Grand Prix race weekend by topping the first Formula 1 practice on Friday morning at the Bahrain International Circuit, finishing the session three-tenths of a second clear of the pack.

Haas is yet to have been officially contacted following concerns raised by rival teams about any illegal crossover with Ferrari in the design of its Formula 1 car, with team principal Günther Steiner saying the story is “getting old”.

Follow Crash.net's live coverage of the opening practice session for the 2018 Bahrain Grand Prix.  F1 Bahrain GP - FP1 LIVE 

Ahead of what looks set to be an important weekend for Formula 1’s future as Liberty unveils its post-2020 plan to teams, Crash.net F1 Editor Luke Smith brings you his notebook from Thursday in Bahrain.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen believes it would be unfair to ban the use of Formula 1 engine qualifying modes just because Mercedes is “doing a better job” than its rivals. 

Liberty Media will further outline what Formula 1’s post-2020 world will look like in a meeting with teams on Friday in Bahrain Grand Prix that looks set to be decisive in the defining future of the sport.

Sebastian Vettel says it is a "no brainer" that Ferrari is not yet quick enough to match Mercedes in outright pace at the front of the Formula 1 field, estimating the gap to be around three- or four-tenths of a second.

Esteban Ocon is confident Force India can turnaround its fortunes after a slow start to the 2018 Formula 1 season, beginning at this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix.  

Formula 1 commercial chief Sean Bratches has confirmed that efforts are being made to swap the dates for next year’s races in China and Bahrain in order to avoid clashing with a national holiday.