MANAMA: Defending triple world champion Sebastian Vettel extended his lead in this year's title race on Sunday when he claimed an impressive victory for Red Bull in an incident-filled Bahrain Grand Prix.

It was the 25-year-old German's second win in four races this year and the 28th of his career.

It saw him pass Jackie Stewart into sixth in the all-time Grand Prix winning list.

Starting second, Vettel took the lead on lap three and then controlled the 57-laps race as he came home 9.1 seconds clear of nearest rival and 2007 champion Finn Kimi Raikkonen of Lotus.

Frenchman Romain Grosjean finished third in the second Lotus, as the Renault powered team made the best of excellent tyre conservation.

It was the same podium finish as last year's race.

Grosjean denied fourth placed Briton Paul di Resta of Force India his first ever top three finish.

Briton Lewis Hamilton, the 2008 champion, fought hard to finish fifth for Mercedes after a late battle with Australian Mark Webber who came home seventh in the second Red Bull, Mexican Sergio Perez smashing his way to sixth for McLaren.

Two time champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso, who lost the use of his DRS on his Ferrari, came in eighth ahead of pole starting Finn Keke Rosberg in the second McLaren.

Like many, Rosberg struggled with serious rear tyre wear. Briton Jenson Button, champion in 2009, finished 10th for McLaren after several clashes with his own team-mate Perez.