Rosberg sets the Friday Sakhir pace

Bahrain GP - Second practice Nico Rosberg returned to familiar territory this afternoon in sizzling Sakhir, as the German racer topped the timesheets in the second practice session of the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend...  

Hamilton sets pace in Bahrain

• Lewis Hamilton repeats practice form from China• Jenson Button goes sixth fastest in SakhirLewis Hamilton set the fastest time in today's opening practice session ahead of Sunday's Bahrain grand prix.McLaren's reigning world champion, Hamilton, who was also quickest in opening practice for the previous race in China yet was off the pace on race day, set a best time of 1min, 33.647sec at the Sakhir circuit, a quarter of a second quicker than the second fastest, Nick Heidfeld of BMW, whose team-mate Robert Kubica was third.Williams' Nico Rosberg, who has impressed all season in practice sessions, was fifth, ahead of the championship leader, Jenson Button of Brawn. McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen, Brawn's Rubens Barrichello and Ferrari's Felipe Massa completed the top eight.Temperatures were in the mid-30s, with drivers looking forward to a dry race after the rains of Malaysia and China. The only weather risk is the possibility of a sandstorm, which caused severe problems for some teams in pre-season practice.The practice session was an opportunity for teams to test what minor changes they had been able to make since last Sunday's race in Shanghai.Force India expects to take a step forward in Bahrain, having added an interim two-tier diffuser beneath the car, trying to match the speed of Brawn, Williams and Toyota, which have used the aerodynamic aid all season. McLaren and Renault added them in China.Ferrari, seeking to avoid its worst season start in formula one history by going four races without a point, used the Kers power-boost device on Felipe Massa's car, but not Kimi Raikkonen's. Raikkonen was 10th fastest in Friday's opening practice.Renault had not revealed its Kers strategy, but is considered likely to reattach it in Bahrain.Toro Rosso's Sebastian Buemi had the only significant problem of the opening practice, as his car stopped after driving roughly over a kerb.Lewis HamiltonJenson ButtonMcLarenBrawnFerrariToyotaWilliamsForce IndiaRenaultSauberToro RossoFormula oneMotor sportguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Hamilton P1 with McLaren

Bahrain GP - First practice The opening practice session of the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend saw Lewis Hamilton return to the top of the timesheets for the second time this year...  

Bahrain Preview - Brawn GP

Taking place just one week after the Chinese Grand Prix, Round Four of the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship sees the sport arrive in the Middle East for the first of two visits this season for the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday 26 April.

A significant aero update for the VJM02

Bahrain GP - Force India Mercedes - Preview Just one week after the dramatic Chinese Grand Prix, in which Adrian Sutil so nearly scored Force India's first points, the team will be back in action for the fourth event of the season, the Bahrain Grand Prix...  

Recent experience will be an advantage

Bahrain - Toyota - Preview Toyota Racing returns to action swiftly after the Chinese Grand Prix with a trip to the Middle East for the Bahrain Grand Prix on the Bahrain International Circuit at Sakhir...