Nico Rosberg was serene as he led the European Grand Prix from the front as Baku's Formula One debut failed to live up to pre-race premonitions of on-track carnage.

World championship leader Rosberg led the Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel home with Sergio Perez picking up a second podium spot of the season in third.

Lewis Hamilton had looked the man to beat in practice, but a qualifying crash meant he started 10th, before technical issues - and Formula One's radio ban - beset him after the midway point and he finished fifth.

An all-action race had been predicted on the streets of Azerbaijan's capital city, but four retirements through technical issues told a much different story in the end.