Massa on pole at Bahrain

F1 Grand Prix, GP Bahrain, Bahrain International Circuit

Felipe Massa has put in yet another statement by being faster than anyone in the Bahraini qualifying session. Hamilton was very close all through the session but finally got beaten in the final sector of his final flying lap. Respective teammates Raikkonen and Alonso are 3rd and 4th after both were unable to match the pace of the guys in front.

Although Kimi Raikkonen was fastest in the first 2 training sessions on Friday, Saturday proved that McLaren is there too as Hamilton ultimately snatched away the fastest time in the final free practice. It is therefore thinkable to have a tense qualifying session today.

The first part of qualifying proceeded as expected with no big surprises. Both Renaults put in their fastest laps in the ultimate seconds of the session, proving they are yet again suffering to find pace with the Bridgestone tyres. Both Spyker cars are once again at the back of the field, seperated by David Coulthard. Ahead of them but also knocked out is Sato, Liuzzi and Speed.

Toyota kick off the second session. McLaren also follow and have apparently switched to the medium compound, contrary to the hard compound used by the McLarens in the first period. While Hamilton is now on the pace with Ferrari, it appears as if Alonso is having trouble to match that speed as he is 5th, behind Heidfeld. The end of the period turns out to be a close battle between Renault, Toyota and Williams who have all cars on track. Rosberg and Fisichella were lucky to be in for Q3. Wurz and Kovalainen were the unlucky ones while Davidson, Schumacher and both Honda's appeared too far away to stand a chance to get in the superpole.

At the start of Q3 Alonso did not line up in the queue while Hamilton was on pole to start the session.

Heidfeld is the first to come in the pitlane and is surprisingly fitted with the hard tyres. All others pit one lap later and are provided with the marked medium compound. After the first fast laps, Massa is just ahead of Hamilton who is followed by Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso. These positions even left unchanged after all drivers improved on their times. Both Raikkonen and Alonso are suffering badly to follow their teammates as both are 0.4s behind the men on the front row.