Lewis Hamilton held off teammate Nico Rosberg to win the Bahrain Grand Prix in a Mercedes duel under the lights on Sunday.
After missing out on pole position for the first time this season, Hamilton wasted no time in getting his nose in front as he passed Rosberg into turn one. That set the tone for the rest of a pulsating race — the 900th in Formula One history.
Hamilton had opened up a nine-and-a-half-second lead when the safety car came out on lap 42 after Pastor Maldonado sent Esteban Gutierrez spinning through the air, but that gave Rosberg hope as the Brit was on slower tires.
Mercedes executive director Paddy Lowe radioed both drivers urging them to ensure they both finish the race, but there was no holding back as Rosberg attempted to regain his lead.
Hamilton was not to be denied his second consecutive victory, though, as he won by just over a second to ensure Rosberg had to settle for second place, with Sergio Perez's third giving Force India only their second podium finish since joining F1 in 2008.
Hamilton's 24th grand prix victory ensures he draws level with the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio and ensured he is just four points behind championship leader Rosberg.
Ricciardo was left to reflect on what have been, as he put the disappointment of being given a 10-place penalty to surge up from 13th to take fourth.
Sebastian Vettel's disappointing start to the season continued as he finished sixth and was ordered to allow Red Bull teammate Ricciardo to pass him as the Australian had more speed.
Nico Hulkenberg moved up the grid after starting 11th to take 10 championship points for a fifth-place finish, taking advantage of Jenson Button's late retirement on the Brit's 250th grand prix.
Ferrari duo Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen could only manage ninth and 10th respectively in the first night race in Bahrain as Mercedes took centre stage once again.
Mercedes have given Hamilton and Rosberg a license to race this year and they took full advantage in an enthralling race.
After Hamilton had edged in front at the first turn, Rosberg was not impressed when his team-mate cut across him after the German had briefly taken the lead on lap 19.
Rosberg stated to his team over the radio "warn him that was not on", but they continued to do battle and Hamilton came out on top despite the disruption of the safety car coming out.
Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo had expressed his fears that Formula One had become like "taxi-cab driving" with new fuel conservation regulations ahead of the encounter, but Sunday's race was a great advert for the sport.