Formula 1: Hamilton says 'was lucky' brake malfunction in last lap didn't cost him win in Bahrain GP

Reigning Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton has said that he was lucky that the brake malfunction just yards from winning the Bahrain Grand Prix didn't affect the outcome of his race.

Mercedes' sophisticated brake-by-wire system failed on his teammate Nico Rosberg's Silver Arrows two laps from home and sent the German skidding out of second place and it could have been exactly the same story for the world champion.

Instead, Hamilton just managed to make it over the line. He said that he had to back off at the end with the traffic and the brakes, but admitted that luckily for him the effect wasn't as great as for Rosberg, The Mirror reported.

A relieved Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said that they lost the brakes on both cars, adding that Rosberg's went one-and-a-half laps from the end and Hamilton's on the last lap, but claimed that they got there.

The win was Hamilton's ninth in 11 races, and he took a comfortable 27-point lead over Rosberg after four races.

Despite his team's desperate radio warning, Hamilton insisted that his brakes got a bit warm behind back markers, but added that it wasn't a problem. He conceded that Ferrari gave them a good run for their money, but claimed that Mercedes were able to keep the car together and get through, adding that they must keep pushing.