19/03/2022
NEWS STORY
Ahead of Q1, the air temperature is 20 degrees C, while the track temperature is 27 degrees.
The sun is setting and floodlights illuminate the Bahrain International Circuit.
Well, here we are. Now we finally get to see who is giving it "full beans", and who is busy removing bags of sand from their cockpit.
The qualifying sims earlier gave us some insight, with Verstappen, Leclerc, Perez Russell, Sainz and Hamilton covered by just 0.577s.
However, while Mercedes appears to have had any bags of sand it might have had lying around, we have yet to discover if Verstappen, in particular, was giving it "full beans".
As if this battle between Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes wasn't enough, we have a genuine thriller in the shape of the midfield, with Haas and Alfa Romeo appearing to have made a gigantic leap forwards.
Meanwhile, McLaren is struggling, Alpine fluctuates as do AlphaTauri and Aston Martin.
Indeed, the only team that appears to be displaying 'regular' form is Williams, and it isn't good form.
Since FP3 the FIA has released the results of its three-month investigation into Abu Dhabi, and while the total lack of honesty leaves a bitter taste, it is the prospect of sessions like this, when the gloves finally come off and the teams and drivers do what they do best, that reminds us why we still love the sport.
Each phase of this session is going to be hard fought, and we are confident that along with some shocks there are going to be a few surprises.
The lights go green and Albon leads the way, followed by Latifi, Tsunoda - who didn't participate in FP3 due to a hydraulics issue - and Gasly. The Williams pair on mediums, the Alphas on softs.
As the four begin their first flyer, the McLaren pair head out.
Gasly posts a 33.016 and Tsunoda a 33.581 as the Williams pair both pit.
As more drivers head out, all are on the softs.
Ricciardo posts a 33.603, while Norris responds with a 33.113, not what the Woking outfit was hoping for.
Verstappen goes quickest in S1, maintaining the pace in the second sector. At the line it's 31.909.
Meanwhile, Perez goes quickest in S2, stopping the clock at 32.383 to go second.
Elsewhere, Bottas goes quickest in S1, as Ocon goes third overall (32.667).
Magnussen goes second (32.286) and Schumacher fourth (32.592), but both are demoted when Bottas goes second with a 31.919. Does the Finn know that he's no longer at Mercedes?
Leclerc bangs in a 31.471, while Sainz goes second with a 31.567.
A 32.346 sees Alonso go sixth, as the Mercedes pair begin their first flyers of the afternoon.
Russell goes eighth with a 32.546, only to be demoted when teammate Hamilton posts a 32.285 to claim fifth.
Gasly goes seventh with a 32.315.
With 5:20 remaining, Latifi, Tsunoda, Ricciardo, Hulkenberg and Stroll comprise the drop zone, with Norris and Albon hovering.
PBs in the first two sectors for Russell as he and his teammate remain on track for a second flyer. Russell improves to 5th with a 32.269.
17 cars on track with 1:40 remaining, the Ferrari pair and Verstappen feeling they've done enough.
On board shows Ricciardo really suffering from understeer.
Lots of PBs in the opening sector, as Albon goes 13th and Ricciardo 15th.
Norris goes 6th while Stroll fails to improve. Schumacher goes 11th, and Zhou 13th.
Hulkenberg improves but still fails to make the cut, while Albon makes it by the skin of his teeth.
Quickest is Leclerc, ahead of Sainz, Verstappen, Bottas, Magnussen, Ocon, Gasly, Norris, Russell and Hamilton.
We lose Tsunoda, Hulkenberg, Ricciardo, Stroll and Latifi.
"That's the first time since Brazil 2019 that we've had two cars through Q2," tweets Haas.
Albon heads out to get Q2 underway, the Williams sporting softs.
As the Thai driver begins his flyer, he is joined by Magnussen, Schumacher, Verstappen, Perez, Bottas and Zhou.
Albon actually pits without posting a time, indeed he is now the only driver not on track.
With 9:10 remaining, Magnussen posts the first time of the phase. The Dane posts a 31.461 but moment later Verstappen crosses the line at 30.757.
Leclerc goes second (31.356), ahead of Perez, Magnussen, Hamilton, Russell and Sainz.
Gasly can only mange 12th, but is subsequently demoted when Norris posts a 32.473.
Ocon is eighth, ahead of Alonso and Bottas.
Magnussen is warned that he has a "big" hydraulics issue and has to return to the pits with no gear shifts.
Once again, Albon has the track to himself, this time around he posts a time, a 32.664, but it is only good enough for 13th.
With 3:40 remaining, Schumacher, Norris, Albon, Gasly and Tsunoda comprise the drop zone.
Other than Albon, who has given up, and Magnussen, who has that hydraulics issue, Verstappen is the only driver who doesn't come out for the final assault.
Leclerc goes quickest in the final sector but remains second. However, a 30.787 sees the Monegasque leapfrogged by his teammate.
Bottas goes 8th, and Perez 4th, while Alonso goes eighth.
Hamilton takes fifth and Russell sixth, while a late charge sees Gasly go 9th at the expense of Ocon.
"Oh lovely," says Norris when informed he finished thirteenth. "Alright, best we could do today," he adds.
Quickest is Verstappen, ahead of Sainz, Leclerc, Perez, Hamilton, Russell, Magnussen, Alonso, Gasly and Bottas.
We lose Ocon, Schumacher, Norris, Albon and Zhou.
Check out our Saturday gallery from Bahrain, here.
Russell leads the way as the Mercedes pair are first out. They are followed by the Ferrari pair and Verstappen and Perez as it appears we are about to see how the rules overhaul affects slipstreaming.
Leclerc and Sainz trade fastest sectors, but Verstappen goes quicker. Same again in S2.
Russell crosses the line at 32.291 while Hamilton responds with a 32.158. Leclerc stops the clock at 30.731, while Sainz manages a 30.687 to go top.
Verstappen can only manage third, the world champion crossing the line at 30.743.
Perez goes fourth with a 31.013 and Gasly seventh (33.238).
Verstappen feels he didn't push his tyres hard enough on his out lap.
With 3:40 the Mercedes pair head out again, followed by Bottas and the Ferraris. Alonso and Magnussen also head down the pitlane, followed by the Bulls.
A disappointing opening sector for Russell, while Hamilton can only manage a PB.
Verstappen goes quickest in S1, as Russell remains sixth and Hamilton fifth.
However Russell is leapfrogged by Bottas as Leclerc goes quickest with a 30.558.
Sainz goes second, but is demoted when Verstappen stops the clock at 30.681.
Yes, the Dutchman can only manage second.
Magnussen claims seventh, ahead of Alonso, Russell and Gasly.
Out come the yellows however, as Magnussen stops at Turn 1.
So, now we know, Mercedes wasn't sandbagging and Ferrari really is a threat... indeed more than a threat.
Then there's Alfa Romeo and Haas, not to mention a fired up Alonso and Gasly.
Leclerc starts from pole - on the tyres of his choice remember - ahead of Verstappen, Sainz, Perez, Hamilton, Bottas, Magnussen, Alonso, Russell and Gasly.
Ocon will start eleventh, ahead of Schumacher, Norris, Albon, Zhou, Tsunoda, Hulkenberg, Ricciardo, Stroll and Latifi.
Check out our Saturday gallery from Bahrain, here.