14/04/2007
NEWS STORY
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Ahead of today's all-important qualifying session, the air temperature is 34 degrees C, while the track temperature is 45 degrees.
Although Lewis Hamilton was quickest in this morning's free practice session, it was Kimi Raikkonen who set the pace yesterday.
Basically, it's going to be McLaren versus Ferrari, with the Italian team keen to make up for last week's set back in Malaysia. BMW is clearly thereabout, with Williams and Toyota keeping a watching eye, though the Japanese team has been a little 'hit-and-miss' here.
The lights go green, and Jenson Button is first out, followed by Coulthard and Rosberg. Meanwhile, Barrichello hears those dreaded words: "we don't want to worry you but…"
It turns out that his engine cover has some "bumps" on it so consequently they change it with the engine cover from the T-car.
Wurz posts the benchmark time, crossing the line at 34.985, Coulthard goes second ahead of Button and Sutil.
The times tumble as Rosberg then Trulli take the top spot. The big guns wait in their garages as Webber goes quickest (34.211), only to be demoted by Liuzzi.
Most drivers are on the harder compound, except for Liuzzi and Davidson, who - as one might expect - goes quickest in the first two sectors. Sure enough, the Englishman takes top spot with a 33.403.
Hamilton and Alonso leave the McLaren garage, followed by Heidfeld.
The Englishman locks up, but still goes quickest in the first sector, despite being on the harder compound. At the line it's 1:32.580 as he takes the top spot on the timesheets. However, Alonso has already gone quickest in the first sector. At the second split however, he's 0.3s down on his teammate. At the line it's 33.049, which is good enough for second.
Massa and Raikkonen both on track, the Brazilian quickest in the first sector. At the line Felipe posts 32.443 to go quickest, however, all eyes are on Raikkonen and Heidfeld.
Heidfeld goes fourth, but is demoted by Raikkonen, who can 'only' manage 33.161.
Rosberg, Wurz, Coulthard and Schumacher still in the 'danger zone'.
Coulthard is lapping very slowly, possibly a problem for the Scot.
Rosberg goes seventh, as Coulthard is pushed into his garage, his day's work at an end.
It's frantic out there, fast and furious, far too close to call as to who's not going to make the cut.
Davidson is definitely safe, having posted a 33.299.
The session ends but there are still fifteen cars on track.
Kovalainen goes tenth, and Wurz thirteenth, while Sato could still bring an end to Button's day. Elsewhere, Albers has a big moment.
Sato fails to improve, which means that Button gets to go through to the next phase. However, Albers, Coulthard, Sutil, Speed, Liuzzi and Sato are out at the first hurdle.
Quickest was Massa, ahead of Hamilton, Alonso, Raikkonen, Heidfeld, Trulli, Davidson, Kubica, Rosberg and Kovalainen.
The lights go green and the second phase gets underway.
As if he doesn't know, Giancarlo Fisichella is told that it's "very tight", therefore he has to "make both of these laps count".
Two minutes after the all-clear, Schumacher is the first driver to go out. He's followed by Trulli, Rosberg and Wurz.
Schumacher is on the medium compound, however, it is Trulli who is setting the pace. The German posts 33.294 to set the benchmark, but, Trulli instantly goes quicker (32.853).
Rosberg goes second and Wurz fourth, as Webber posts a 32.808 to take the top spot. Not for long however, as Heidfeld posts 32.233.
Hamilton is on track, pushing the McLaren a little too hard, letting the tail hang out, and then some. Nonetheless, he posts 31.732 to go quickest.
Davidson goes sixth, but all eyes are on Alonso. Massa, Raikkonen and Kubica are also on track. Both Hondas are over a second off the pace.
Alonso goes third (32.214), but Massa is on a hot lap, going quickest in the first sector. The Brazilian is quickest again in the second sector, with Raikkonen keeping him honest. At the line Felipe posts 31.359 to go quickest, while his teammate goes third.
Just over three minutes remaining, and the Hondas are in the danger zone, as are the Renaults, Wurz and Schumacher.
The top six appear to have settled, happy with their times. The remaining ten go about the business of attempting to make it through to the final phase.
Wurz is doing well, he looks to be safe. The Austrian crosses the line at 32.915, to go ninth. Kovalainen goes tenth, but his teammate is still on track, as is Rosberg.
The Italian takes tenth, which is bad news for his Finnish teammate and Wurz.
As expected, the Hondas fail, as do Schumacher, Davidson, Kovalainen and Wurz.
Quickest was Massa, ahead of Hamilton, Raikkonen, Heidfeld, Alonso, Kubica, Trulli, Webber, Rosberg and Fisichella. AS expected, both Ferraris, both McLarens, both BMWs, a Renault, a Toyota, a Red Bull and a Williams.
At the end of the pitlane, Hamilton heads the multi-million high-octane traffic jam. He is followed by the BMWs , Ferraris, Red Bull, Williams and Toyota. Once the rest have departed, Alonso casually leaves the McLaren garage and sets off in pursuit.
Rosberg is told to stay with Webber and not lose position.
Out front, Hamilton sets a blistering pace, indeed there's a little puff of (blue) smoke from the Mercedes powerplant.
Heidfeld is the first to pit, putting on the harder compound. Next time around, Hamilton, Massa, Raikkonen and Rosberg stop, as does Alonso.
Heidfeld posts a personal best in the first sector, but it doesn't match the pace we saw from Hamilton just a moment ago. That said, he goes quickest in the second sector. At the line it's 34.340, which puts him second.
Massa goes quickest in the first sector, which includes a lock-up and a slide. He's quickest again in the second sector, but this is beaten by Hamilton. The Brazilian goes quickest, ahead of Kubica, who is quickly demoted by Raikkonen and them Hamilton.
Alonso can only manage fourth (33.655), behind Massa, Hamilton and Raikkonen. Kubica is fifth, ahead of Heidfeld, Rosberg, Webber, Fisichella and Trulli.
Over the radio, Hamilton asks what sectors he's losing out in. The final phase of stops is underway.
Just over two minutes remaining and they're all on track, and all on the medium compound, even Heidfeld.
Massa goes quickest in the first sector, as Hamilton and Raikkonen match one another. The Brazilian is quickest again the second sector, as Hamilton gets the edge of Raikkonen.
Massa has pole, surely, as Hamilton can only manage second. All eyes on Alonso, who is still on track and the only many who can displace the Ferrari. He fails, the Spaniard crosses the line at 33.192 to go fourth.
Massa takes his second pole of the season, with Hamilton starting alongside. Kimi Raikkonen will start from third alongside Alonso.
Another great performance from BMW, with Heidfeld and Kubica locking out the third row.
Fisichella starts from seventh, ahead of Webber, Trulli and Rosberg, who will surely be disappointed not be a couple of spots higher.
Therefore, just one week after Malaysia we have the prospect of another great scrap tomorrow, especially at the first corner. We know from last week, the Ferrari's have to be ahead, therefore, both Massa and Raikkonen will have their work cut.
What really excites however, is the fact that the BMW duo is clearly ready to pick up the pieces should it all go wrong.
To check out our Bahrain qualifying gallery, click here