Nico Rosberg made it back-to-back victories to start the new Formula One season by winning the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday, capitalizing on a first-corner collision involving Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton and an engine failure which prevented Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel starting the race.

Rosberg led throughout to win by 10.2 seconds at the Sakhir circuit from Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen, with Hamilton third after recovering from the collision with Williams driver Valtteri Bottas.

It was the fifth straight win for Rosberg, dating back to last season, and his first in Bahrain.

Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo was fourth and Romain Grosjean fifth in another encouraging performance by the new American-based Haas team.