LEWIS HAMILTON survived a pulsating battle with Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg to clinch back-to-back victories for the first time in four years.

Despite all the negativity that has swirled around Formula One this season, what unfolded at the Bahrain International Circuit was a humdinger of a race.

Mercedes were utterly dominant, crushing their rivals into the desert sand that surrounds what is now an illuminated citadel of speed as the track staged its first night race to celebrate its tenth anniversary.

Spectators could barely look away given the wheel-towheel action that unfolded from lap to lap, in stark contrast to events a week ago in Malaysia, which handed the dissenters ammunition to criticise.

One second separated Hamilton and Rosberg, the former taking the chequered flag for the 24th time in his F1 career, while for Mercedes it was a heart-stopping second successive one-two.

From the moment they locked out the front row, with Rosberg on pole by a quarter of a second from Hamilton, the prospect of a captivating battle was on the cards.

Come corner four at the end of the first long straight, Hamilton had the racing line, holding off Rosberg, who was forced off the circuit to avoid contact.

Try as he might, Hamilton was unable to shake Rosberg off his tail, and as the first pit-stop approached and with tyres wearing, the duo clashed on lap 17.

At one stage Rosberg managed to get his nose in front, only for the Briton to cut back on the inside and the duo to brush rubber before they continued to dice as the lap unfolded.

Hamilton then pitted after 20 laps, taking on a new set of the faster soft tyres, while Rosberg was in two laps later, switching to the fractionally slower medium Pirelli rubber.

It appeared it would prove crucial because on lap 41, and with Hamilton almost 10 seconds ahead of Rosberg, all his hard work was undone by a moment of recklessness from Pastor Maldonado.

Heading into turn one, the Venezuelan in his Lotus Tboned Sauber’s Esteban Gutierrez, sending the Mexican into a somersault.

Gutierrez was fortunate his written-off car righted itself, and lucky also he emerged unscathed.

However, the incident brought the safety car into play, resulting in the leaders making their second stops, with Hamilton forced to take on the medium tyres and Rosberg the softs. It appeared game over but Hamilton producing a superb performance on the slower rubber.