Pedro de la Rosa and Kamui Kobayashi were disappointed with their qualifying efforts, after failing to set a time anywhere near the top ten.

After a positive pre-season, the Sauber team had been expected to fly around the Sakhir circuit. However, this did not appear to be the case in qualifying, with both drivers struggling to overcome the bumps in the new section of the track.  Read more... (412 words, estimated 1:39 mins reading time)

Giorgio Ascanelli is hopeful that Toro Rosso will have better race pace in tomorrow’s Bahrain Grand Prix, and is banking on a race of attrition to help his team score some points.

Ascanelli, technical director of the Faenza-based outfit, claimed to be happy with the performance of his two drivers in qualifying, after the team overcame a difficult day of practice on Friday.  Read more... (364 words, estimated 1:27 mins reading time)

Sebastian Vettel stormed to pole position for the Bahrain Grand Prix with a stunning lap to deny both Ferrari drivers.

The 22-year-old was competitive throughout qualifying, but left it late on his only run in Q3 to snatch pole position by just over a tenth from the Ferrari of Felipe Massa, with Fernando Alonso in third.  Read more... (985 words, estimated 3:56 mins reading time)

Fernando Alonso was fastest in the final practice session, ahead of qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix. The Spaniard made the most of a low-fuel run, late in the session, to top the time sheets by over two tenths of a second.  Read more... (432 words, estimated 1:44 mins reading time)

Following a morning of practice, rookies Lucas di Grassi and Nico Hulkenberg were joined by Heikki Kovalainen, Robert Kubica and Sebastian Vettel in the press conference.

2010 BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX
FRIDAY PRESS CONFERENCE

Nico Rosberg climbed to the top of the times in the second free practice session in Bahrain. The German led a Mercedes-powered lock out of the top of the times, with team-mate Michael Schumacher in 3rd and the McLaren’s of Hamilton and Button in 2nd and 4th respectively.  Read more... (879 words, estimated 3:31 mins reading time)

Renault technical director Bob Bell is not happy about the FIA’s decision to allow McLaren’s new rear wing.

McLaren new design gives the driver the option to close a vent in the cockpit which helps to stall the rear wing and therefore create less drag. The result is a higher top speed on the straights whilst retaining maximum downforce through the corners.  Read more... (264 words, estimated 1:03 mins reading time)

Preparations are underway for an official Formula One film to be made after a deal was struck with F1’s commerical chief Bernie Ecclestone.

It is understood that the F1 film will be an action documentary and will focus on the time period between 1968, when Jim Clark died at Hockenheim, and 1982, when Gilles Villeneuve had his fatal accident at Zolder. It is hoped that the film will be released early next year.  Read more... (104 words, estimated 25 secs reading time)

The first free practice looks to have surprised many with Adrian Sutil topping the first session in Bahrain for Force India with a time of 1:56.563. However Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso wasn’t far behind and his last attempt saw him just 0.183 seconds behind.  Read more... (344 words, estimated 1:23 mins reading time)

Although it may not hold a candle in some eyes in comparison to Melbourne, the Sakhir circuit in Bahrain plays host to the first leg of this already-enthralling and unpredictable season.

However, what Bahrain lacks in history and charm it makes up in enthusiasm, with its organisers second to none in providing some of the sport’s most modern facilities.  Read more... (4810 words, 1 image, estimated 19:14 mins reading time)