The Bahrain Grand Prix - Qualifying Highlights Formula 1

highlights of qualifying ahead of one of the most talked-about races

for many years. Formula One is used to being in the spotlight and is no

stranger to controversy, but even by disport's standards, these last

few days have been intense. As the attention focuses on things

happening off the track, up on it, we are entering a golden age, with

competition reminiscent of a bygone era.

Trying to go faster and faster all the time. It is the most amazing

feeling. We feel we were born to race. So much joy and fascination

to feel the car on the edge, to be quicker than your opponent. It is a

very special feeling, you have to be relaxed. Away we go! So much

action, wheel-to-wheel racing. exciting at the moment. The last

race was of the best for a long time. You never know which cars

will make the podium. We are in for a special season.

It is a great schism that continues in the desert, David Coulthard is

beside me, and we have had three races, three winners, just a few

seconds separating second from 13th. We have all of the ingredients for

a good season. Yes, that is what happens when the regulations are

stable. We have lost the diffuses, but the rest has stayed the same,

and everybody has the chance to copy what the fast guys were doing

it. We have a vintage year. We have guys who have not been on the

podium who have been very close each time. One of them, close to

picking up points in the last race, Paul di Resta. Because it is so

tight, he was back in the field. But Force India much trouble to

replicate that form, because due to safety concerns, two of their

personnel have gone home, and they missed the second session of

practice on Friday. The teams are restricted on how many members they

can bring it, in the interest of cutting costs, so you have got to

assume it will cost them, because they do not have the guys here. It

was Paul di Resta's data engineer. That is definitely going to

unsettle them. You are close to him, what has he said? He is a

professional, so he is saying very little. But it is unsettling,

especially when you on losing team members. They took a decision,

which is brave, not necessarily supported by the other teams, two

missed the session, which will affect the performance, but there

will be less pressure on the drivers, because they have had not

-- because they have not had the preparation. It has been an unusual

weekend and an uneasy atmosphere in the paddock. That prompted Bernie

Ecclestone and the Crown Prince to come into the paddock yesterday and

address the media. In Britain, politicians are calling

for the race to be boycotted, Amnesty International thinks it

should not go ahead. What would you say? This race should continue

because it is indeed the very big event for this country, it is

important economically, socially, political parties from across the

spectrum have welcomed the race, and cancelling the race empowers

extremists. It allows us to celebrate our nation, it is an idea

that is positive. The protesters have an incredible platform for all

of you to talk to them. They say they talk about democracy, freedom

of speech, they say. They have had all the freedom to talk to you.

is not good, Tear Gas, stun grenades, protests on the streets.

Petrol bombs. It is nothing to do with Formula One. We are trying to

use any positive effect for the benefit of our people and our

nation, and I will not be ashamed about that at all.

Let's get the driver's' perspective, how is it for the drivers to retain

their focus? Inevitably, it is a distraction. What of an answering

questions about the set-up of the car, they are getting pulled into

an area they are not come for talking about, politics and issues

of the country. They do not fully understand it. It has been agreed

to keep comments to a minimum. kind of conversations are they

having? You've raced into 1005 in the USA, when only six cars took to

the track -- in 2005. At times like that, the power that comes together,

because it is not just about one team or One driver, it is in the

interest of the sport. We are taking a bashing it, but it is a

sport, it is a business, when you come into the paddock, it is a

sport, and none of the team members want to get involved in the other

issues. We cannot ignore them, but we have to rely on the governing

body. Jean Todt is the President of the FIA, I spoke with him earlier

today. As things have unfolded during the

Grand Prix week, the FIA still believed it was the right decision

to come to Bahrain? My answer is yes, it is good for the sport, the

sport has to be healing any kind of problem in the world. We are not a

political body, which are a sporting body. I hope we will do

did it through the Grand Prix. you ever considered calling off the

race on Sunday? I feel very comfortable, having the race in

Bahrain, after the great Grand Prix in China last week. And before

going to Barcelona in three weeks, for the first Grand Prix in Europe.

Or you concerned about any potential protests during the race?

I have nothing will happen, but I am not a magician -- I hope. I

cannot foresee what will happen. So far, nothing like that will make me

think, -- will make me think that it will happen.

The sport continues to hold its breath. As one team principal said

yesterday, there are 43 points on offer, it remains a Grand Prix and

embrace that every team wants to win.

starting to roll. Once again, the momentum has swung towards another

team, they have struggled so far, Red Bull, particularly Sebastian

Vettel, but they are quicker here. It is remarkable, we said they are

struggling, they have been within a few seconds of being able to win

the race, but it is not what they produce two. There is no question

in the warmth that we have, 25 degrees track temperature in

Shanghai, 40 degrees and climbing here, and they can make the tyres

work. The real inspiration, not only is it early in the season, it

is tight. Just one victory separates the top seven drivers.

Sebastian Vettel will not be enjoying being behind Mark Webber.

Ferrari are a long way behind McLaren. Yes, a lot of time to be

made up. A long way to go in the season. We look forward to seeing

how it plays out. Qualifying coming your way in just a couple of

moments. The big news, we know that, but here are the rest of the

headlines. Lewis Hamilton leads the Drivers'

Championship, having finished third in all three races this season. But

neither he nor his team have ever won in Bahrain. He feels this could

be the ideal weekend to stand tall on the podium. We have a car that

can compete. We have shown in the last few races we have got good

qualifying pace and good race pace. We are working hard to improve our

race pace. We are there or thereabouts, and we have as good an

opportunity as anyone. Jenson Button has won here before, 2009,

the last time for me the one man on the shorter circuit. In 2010,

Formula One was on the longer track. This was the circuit that was made

for Formula One, it is the better of the two. It does not have the

chance we had in 2010. -- jumps. Sebastian Vettel lead lasted's

championship from the start, but this year, he has managed only one

podium. He says Red Bull will be running Mark Webber's specification

this weekend on both cars. We go back to the package he was racing

in the last race. We believe it is the better way to go. It was an

interesting test in China, it gave us some good analysis. Williams has

scored 18 points in the first three races. 13 more than the entire

previous season. Pastor Maldonado says the progress over the winter

has even surprised B-team. It is completely different, we changed

the philosophy of the team. We are more compact now. All of the

departments are working together. As you can see, the difference is

quite big. Even the drivers can feel the difference in the car.

Finally, there will be changes to the circuit in Monaco to improve

safety after Sergio Perez's crash last year. The track surface has

been levelled out and the ball he hit has been pushed back over 40

metres. Around the track, barriers will be replaced by more modern

advances. Changes happening to Monaco, no

need for changes here, it is difficult to hit a barrier. That is

the Hermann Tilke track, lots of... Run-offs. -- lots of run-off. It

keeps the traffic moving. You have got a different challenge here, we

are in the middle of the desert, it makes it a challenge when the cost

of first go out on the track. and day-to-day, from Friday to

Saturday, there was a lot of dust in the air. These were pictures

from the morning practice session. Lots of love cups. We will see that

all weekend. Lewis Hamilton, A Bick lock-up on the entry. Likewise, the

Lotus. Michael Schumacher struggling, pumping the brake pedal,

trying to get the front tyre to grip. This is what the driver does,

pulsing away at the great peril -- the brake pedal. No such problems

last time out for Nico Rosberg in China, he arrives here as a Formula

One race winner. Nico Rosberg is going to have his

first ever pole position! It was a weekend of firsts, how

were the emotions when you were sitting on the grid? It was a

different view. The nerves were there. It was very exciting, to

start from the front. Nico Rosberg gets off Dave Ryan --

get off the line beautifully! The whole weekend was nearly

perfect. At what point did you think, this is mine? At the

beginning, I expected a bullet to come from the back, some fast car

I knew he was going to have to stop again and what not be able to catch

me any more. Just about every single person is happy you got of

the wind. It is a nice endorsement for you? Very nice to see a lot of

people were pleased for me. For me and for the team, also. We are live

on the BBC, how does it feel? Fantastic. And still everybody at

home who is part of this effort. It is special, it has been a long time

coming. I like him a lot comedy is dedicated and committed. He has

probably deserve a race win before now, and I am delighted to be part

of him having and enjoying this first one. I was involved in the

first race win of his father. you have to reassess your targets

now borders Mercedes have to reassess their targets? We will

have to be careful because we were in trouble. He has damage to his

car by the looks of it. I am more consistent and generally improved.

I am learning and things in Bahrain might be a bit more difficult, will

have to wait and see. What would be a great end to this season?

World Championship would be OK! But it is not realistic at the moment.

We use the next weeks to get another win. Because of this

development of the team, you never know when the team becomes strong

enough to challenge for the Championship. Maybe in the next

five or six races, a pattern starts to emerge and we will be where we

are. But I am quietly optimistic for the next part of the season.

The pattern emerging is at the moment in Formula One it is a very

tight at the front. Now it is time to see who can emerged to pick up

pole position in Bahrain. It is time for the teams to forget about

the backdrop to this Grand Prix. It is now time for qualifying in the

company of David Coulthard and Ben Formula One has come to the Bahrain

circuit near the capital of Manama. The Abu Dhabi race takes place soon.

The green light her means the first qualifying session is under way in

Bahrain. There appears to be no great rush to get out onto the

circuit. Watching the young Frenchman racing for Marussia. He

won a race in GP two, in the 2009, 2010 season. He has not raced at

any of the other tracks that it, so that must give him some confidence?

He is in a different car, but it gives you a chance to experiment,

but largely the main line you would say it would be the same into

Formula One. You might see Formula One cars taking a shower line

because they can exploit took the extra downforce and grip. But that

wouldn't be the case in the low- speed corners, when I say low, I

mean 50 mph. Which is still quick when it comes to a normal car. But

Grand Prix cars have very little downforce and then it is a case of

straightening your braking and using the extra KERS. And Marussia

and Caterham came into Grand Prix racing here in 2010 because the

Bahrain track was the first race of the year. A across the line, Nico

Hulkenberg as at the initial time. But to give you a bit of reference,

morning and we are wondering, David, if he will have to go to the yellow

tier to ensure he gets in soon Q2? We are seeing more than one second

advantage between the white walls of Tyre and below its higher which

appears to only work for a single lap. Huge amounts of understeer for

Mergulho in turn 11. -- Massa. To top it off he has oversteer

probably brought on because he opened DRS when he thought he had

enough grip. Nico Hulkenberg is going to be the time to beat. His

team-mate has gone out on the softer tyre. Alonso already on the

yellow tier. That tells us all we need to know about Ferrari's

confidence at the moment, probably at zero when they are going

straight out and the options. They have only got three sets of those

tyres available for this qualifying session and the race tomorrow. So

an early shout on the faster tyres are Fernando Alonso. Goalkeeper an

eye on his times. Lewis Hamilton has gone purple in that sector.

Kobayashi you are watching in the Sauber. Ricciardo has gone third

fastest in the Toro Rosso. We also want to keep an eye in the early

stages as to who is going quickly and who is not. Hamilton is setting

the pace in the first sector at the and Alonso have felt since there

was more 112 seconds of the session to go, the track has a bit of

action. Lewis Hamilton. He gets a very wide. The normally if you get

a locker, he will have got that lap. The McLaren car runs very stiff on

the front axle. It does make it difficult for the drivers are when

they under rotate at the wheel. Let's see what Mark Webber does.

Jenson Button is on a very good lap. He goes quickest. That should see

him safely into Q2. That was a clean it run for Jenson Button, but

Hamilton, as we saw, he had a lock up. That did not help him at all.

We are on board with Michael Schumacher and he is on a harder,

compound tyre. Michael was half a second slower than his team-mate,

Nico Rosberg this morning. He gets the very wide in 11 again, and it

is costing him time all the way up through number 12. They have to try

to bring for car back as you drop through 13 and open the DRS. You

can see the elevation change on this track. You arrive at 14 at

just under 300 kilometres an hour. The what do we get from my goal? Q3

at this stage of the sessions. Hamilton has just gone third with a

better lap. This was Nico Rosberg. The he got that a bit wrong! He did

not even bother. He probably didn't even know there was gravel. It is

hard to tell. He probably thought, I have unloaded the car and No. 6

and tried to straighten over the tarmac. Mark Webber getting all out

of position as he runs in from No. 9 and 10. Was he trying to get out

of the way? He was, but you don't want to be doing that, getting dust

on your tired. Grosjean has gone fastest. Remember it is the lowest

seven, we want to keep an eye and, because they don't make it through

to Q2. A couple of times Raikkonen, and Grosjean. Last man to decide to

go out and set a time is Nico Rosberg, currently in last position.

TEAM RADIO: Are we sure about another lap? Yes, we would like to

try one more time. They are not safe, or they don't think they are

safe. We are seeing reasonably high degradation in the tyres. This is a

man under pressure having made the mistake on his first runs. It has

not been a great first sector. Across the line he goes. The third

fastest for the moment, so he is safely in there. About the same as

Kimi Raikkonen and faster than Alonso but Alonso use the option

tyre. He had to use the softer of the two compound tyres to get

amongst the guys. The ones in the dread Zone at the moment, Senna.

lack together and move into the top 10. This should move him from 12th.

He has gone up only one place. Looking at the drop zone. We saw

that Toro Rosso was putting in some good times this morning. His team

mates, Vergne trying to get out of the drop zone. Kimi Raikkonen, I

think we are just getting some slow-motion. He momentarily drifted

back into rally Moat were they basically cut all of the corners to

try and straighten everything out. Here we see another lock up. This

is something we will see all the way through qualifying and all the

way through the race tomorrow. Why it is relevant is if they do ruin

these tyres, they will be in big trouble. We are on board with

Felipe Massa or, coming towards the and the Brazilian as they should be

safe in that position to go through to the next part of qualifying.

Sergio Perez and going quickly at the moment. And his team-mate in

the Sauber. This is the last minute of this session. Keeping an eye on

Senna looks like he could be in trouble. Billing Massa going faster

than he did this morning. -- Felipe Massa. Perez goes fastest.

Ricciardo is now second and Senna is up to six per. Mark Webber in a

bit of danger. He has gone into third. Michael Schumacher is 16th

at the moment and he is in the pits. You never like to see your name

close to the drop zone. Maldonado has had a personal best in the

first sector. The chequered flag is drop, said this is questionable,

whether it is worth it, in terms of using up the set of tyres. Jean-

Eric Vergne is currently in Q2, but he is now squeezed out. The Toro

Rosso of Jean-Eric Vergne joins the likes of HRT, my Russia and

Caterham. Heikki Kovalainen is still on the track. It is unlikely.

Michael Schumacher, the last of the 17. If anybody else was to improve,

he could be in trouble. Heikki Kovalainen is not too bad. I do not

think it will be enough to beat Michael Schumacher, but it is a

great lap. He has done it! Heikki Kovalainen has pushed Michael

Schumacher out of qualifying! That his real drama in Bahrain! The

Catharine of Heikki Kovalainen has got into Q2. -- Caterham. Where did

that come from?! Well done, Heikki Kovalainen and Caterham! Jean-Eric

Vergne coming into the pits, he was given a red light, and he did not

go to the weighbridge, that could be a penalty. Knocked out of key

one, Michael Schumacher, Jean-Eric Vergne, Vitaly Petrov, Charles Pic,

Pedro de la Rosa, Timo Glock and Narain Karthikeyan.

Let's hope that sets the tone for the rest of the weekend. Michael

Schumacher, sinister supplement. -- serious disappointment.

We are surprised to see you so early. Yes, it was not expected. We

got stuck, there was not an impossibility to go out. -- there

was not a possibility. I did not managed to improve my lap time. I

thought I had done enough to make it, and the system failed. We did

not have enough time to fix it. will be a long, hot race tomorrow,

you do not mind a few overtaking it situations at the start? I would

not have minded being from a forward position.

Serious disappointment, he starts towards the back of the pack. The

issue was the rear flap at Chester, otherwise known as the DRS. What it

meant his he was struggling for pace in a straight line. He will

try to get that fixed ahead of the race. What will happen in Q2?

The second qualifying session gets under way, and there are 15 minutes

in which to make it into the top 10. Confirmation about Jean-Eric Vergne

under investigation. He ignored the radar at -- he ignored the red

light. There are so many things to think about, clearly, he did not

respond. That is the driver's responsibility, it is one thing

amongst all of the responsibilities, you have got to look at the man

with the red light. If it switches on, there is no option. It looked

like he was glancing in his mirrors as he passed by, he should have

stopped. What you cannot reverse in the pit lane, but it is fine for an

FIA delegation to push him back onto the weighbridge. That will be

costly. If it is a drive the mistake, he pays the fine. -- A

driver's mistake. Mark Webber's best position here, fifth, in 2005,

when he was driving for Williams. Kimi Raikkonen, four podiums here,

but he has not had a front-row start on this circuit. Nico Rosberg,

the only Mercedes left after we have seen Michael Schumacher go out.

Nico Rosberg looking for his second straight pole position after that

performance he putting in China last week. Fernando Alonso also on

the softer tyre. That is something that in Q2 could be crucial.

Getting some clear runs and not getting caught in traffic. That

could be a factor. There are 17 cars looking to qualify and try to

get into the top 10. Traffic could become a factor. Felipe Massa with

the Ferrari, picking up the pace. Four heavy braking stones on this

track. He is on a used set of softer tyres. He did 30.3 in the

first sector, the fastest of anybody so far. The tricky braking

every, coming in, the ninth corner, into the 10th corner. That was tidy.

He gets the power down well, good traction off the corner. They have

two grids, two picked layouts. You have got to float the car in, and

he did do that. He went extremely wide earlier, but the game in the

lap time, you are going too fast to have a tidy apex, but you do not

lose as much on the run-out, up through the fast right-hander, the

12th corner. A lot tidier from Felipe Massa. He did a great lap in

key one. Finding something in the balance of this car, which has so

far eluded him. 1:34.8, his time. We will be looking at faster times

like that -- faster times than that for the top 10. Kimi Raikkonen has

a new set of the softer tyre. Sergio Perez has just gone quickest.

Kimi Raikkonen, into the last corner. 14 seconds of full throttle.

Lewis Hamilton goes quicker. 0.5 seconds faster than Kimi Raikkonen.

the same time as he did in the free practice this morning, 0.5 seconds

quicker than Michael Schumacher. A lock-up from Sebastian Vettel. On

Nico Rosberg and Mercedes, Michael Schumacher had a technical issue,

which is the reason he did not get the lap time he would have liked.

He is watching Q2 now. We suspect it was a DRS they love. -- eight

ers failure. Jenson Button, 1:33.4. Who will not getting? Currently,

Felipe Massa is being squeezed out. Heikki Kovalainen, we are not

expecting him to go through. Bruno Senna, tenth place, danger

territory. Heikki Kovalainen, they have done their bit for the day! It

is very tight between the different cars. McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull,

so even the match, and possibly even the Lotus. Pastor Maldonado

has got a technical problem, he will not be going out. He will have

a five place penalty on top of the fact he has not been able to

qualify in a position that is representative of what he can do.

Yes, why use your tyres? We have got enough experience with Pirelli

tyres to say, Save the rubber and try to get the late rock in the

find himself a chunk of time. He that they need much warming, 41

degrees. It is so different from China. Yes, but it is interesting,

we have dropped one degree since the middle part of the first part

of qualifying, which has allowed it to lap times to really improve. We

are seeing how sensitive the tyres are to the track temperature

changes. Clear conditions. The racing line will be getting Robert

in. RADIO: We start 10th or 12th with three more laps? Was he

talking about whether it was beneficial to get into the top 10

or not? He might only qualified 10th, so why not give up any

attempt to get into the top 10 and have the choice for the start of

the race, and fresh-air tyres available. Strategic decision.

what are your thoughts? Yes, if you are going to get into the top 10,

you can go out on the harder of the two tyres. But 11th place, you have

the choice. 11th place is probably better than 10th, but that is about

it. Felipe Massa is upon his time so far, looking to get into the top

10 -- he is up on his time. In 2010, we were on the longer version of

the track, but he made a great return to Formula One after the

Hungarian accident. He beat Fernando Alonso in that occasion.

His time is probably not good enough for the top 10. You will see

some people behind him improved. Rob Smedley seems happy. That is a

psychological boost, he is 0.01 seconds ahead of Fernando Alonso.

It is not good enough for Ferrari, but from a psychological point of

view, that will make him feel, if that is the best and a long so can

do, I have done better. -- that is the best Fernando Alonso can do.

Mark Webber building up to get a Lappin. He said the quick time this

morning in free practice. Paul di Resta, a great lap, fifth place,

and the fastest man in the last sector. That is very impressive.

Daniel Ricciardo starts his lap, the young Australian in the Toro

Rosso. One Toro Rosso has been eliminated, they have never managed

to score a point in Bahrain. We are trying to figure out where Force

India have found that time, it is only 0.3 behind Lewis Hamilton, the

track temperature has dropped a further one degree, so perhaps the

colder track means that certain cars are finding form. Daniel

Ricciardo has a reasonable first sector. Fernando Alonso is in the

problem on his car, he is not Ricciardo. This is a pretty good

lap. If he finishes tidy, that will put him around seventh place. The

run for the line. They use a Ferrari engine. He might be faster

than both of the Ferrari cars, address, he is seventh. He pushes

the Ferrari drivers are out of the top 10. Sergio Perez, eighth place.

Again, another Ferrari powered car Grosjean let's try and work out if

the thing he has enough. He is in the final sector in the run down to

14. He is just behind Senna rule is running for the line. Maldonado

cannot do anything. Alonso does get through, what a lack from Alonso.

4th fastest in the Ferrari. Grosjean is safe as well. It pushes

Kimi Raikkonen out. Kimi Raikkonen is out. We're looking at the Bruno

Senna. What happened to him on the last lap? Got a bit out of shape.

Wide as he carried the speed through to 12. Become over the rise

and then drop into 13. You do know as a driver you lose time at that

moment. Where did the Ferrari time come from? He has got between Mark

Webber and Jenson Button. Kimi with us for the pole position

shoot-out. I have found Gary Anderson who has designs race-

winning cars for the Jordan team. Can you shed any light on what is

the issue with the oldest and most famous team in Formula One at the

moment? It is not just one thing. The sides are basically a wing

upside-down and do get some lift on the surface. Most cars have an

airflow around the side of the car. It reduces the amount of lift on

the side. Because Ferrari had this wide exhaust exit they have a big

surface area so they have more lift on the top surface so it creates

drag. Not only do they have less tyre grip, they have more drive. It

is a whole lot of things. They have to address the whole car. A couple

of weeks after this we start the European season, how hard will they

be working to ensure this can't get quicker and will it be easy to

solve? They put a weekend Updates, little bits of pieces. They know

they have to do a big development. I'm sure this is one of the areas

they are concentrating on. There will be tests and update before

Barcelona. No hopefully they will fix it before then. Talking of the

Ferrari fans, at least Fernando Alonso, driving the car brilliantly.

He is in the pole position shoot- out. Let's see who will start at

the front for the 2012 Bahrain Grand Prix.

The top 10 shoot-out is about to get under way in Bahrain. It

promises to be quite a tussle at the front. Not an easy one to

predict. We have seen the likes of Hamilton out there. A surprising

performance from Alonso. But Red Bull do have a car that is

potentially able to challenge for pole position. And we have the man

who did it last weekend in Nico Rosberg in the Mercedes. Mark

Webber has got to be looking good for pole position for stopping his

first sector town was down on the majority of the likely subs --

suspects you would expect to be going for pole position. He was the

fastest man in middle sector. If he can tidy up his middle sector,,

with just one run and a new set of options to go for pole position

this afternoon. Mark Webber has the fastest lap recorded here, but it

was in a free practice session in 2005. Jenson Button on a brand-new

set of the option tyres. McLaren deciding if the track temperature

continues to drop, 39 degrees, verses of 40 degrees are at the end

of the last session, so both McLaren going early. We saw

Hamilton goal early a couple of times this year and it has worked

for him. Let's wait and see what happens will stop it looks like the

mechanic is being attacked by his silver snake as they tried to get

extra cooling into the Mercedes cockpit. What a superb effort so

far from the young Frenchman. See if he can get the car near the

front. He has been in pole position in Bahrain in GP two in the past

will stop at a different story in Formula One. Jenson Button trying

to look after his tyres? Yes, you have one lap to get maximum

performance out of these options tyres. Desperate not to try and use

of any of the rubber available. No problem with warming them up.

Unlike the situation we saw last week in China where the track

temperature was only 25 degrees. Ever so gentle. TEAM RADIO: Both

McLaren's bleeding behind you. keeping the driver informed for

positioning. Mark Webber has the clear space, which is the nice bit

to be in. The cannot control the comes out of the pit lane. Lewis

Hamilton deciding to feel a little bit where the tyres are. The risk

is that, you run off line. But you pick up some sand on your tyres and

that can take a few corners to run off. But Mark Webber, the run into

the first turn. He hits the brake of 50 mph. He is accelerating out

of two and three. They are not really corners. Carries a lot of

speed into the Apax. You run on to the gravel of what was the old

track. Six and seven looks sweet. - - apex. That will be frustrating

for him. Crucially he hit the apex. His first set the time has been

beaten by Lewis Hamilton behind. But not by Sebastian Vettel. Or we

don't know he is on a used set off the softer tyres, we'll keep an eye

on this as he climbs up the hill. Looking at his first sector, you

have to imagine it was a brand-new set for Mark Webber. Different

strategies within the Red Bull camp. Even slightly different set-ups,

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds

but it is not quick. Jenson Button managed to make the apex of the

turns. McLaren is a one and two at the moment. We still have a bit of

time left in this final qualifying segments in Bahrain. It looks like

a battle between Red Bull and Mercedes. A new set of tyres for

Mark Webber. He is still up for the battle for pole position. True

qualifying pace from Red Bull. For the first time this year we have

seen them challenging for pole position? They are happier with the

balance of the car around this racetrack. It happens at a time

when the pressure on the driver to deliver a clean lap is higher than

at any other race track this year. He won't want to take anything out

of those tyres. Anne McLaren might have fuelled the car so light, that

it can be down to almost half of that it you are cruising around it

using a long gear. At the end of the day, small things like one kilo

of you will make the difference between pole position or not.

Rosberg was behind Perez. I wonder how they will be when they come

past us again? The tension in the pit lane is magnificent. Nobody

really knows how this qualifying is going to turn out. The reason I am

saying it is a lot more pressure on the drivers here than at other

circuits, you have to commit to you're breaking up on the front

tyre. You have to allow the car to roll into the turn. It you over

speed your entry, and get it wrong, no chance of pole position. Rosberg

goes on to a lap. 1:32.6 is the time to beat. It will be as he

exits the next corner. That will be the next indicator as to whether

Rosberg is on pole position pace. He is on the pace. Everybody else

is now also trying to go that little bit quicker. Middle sector

of the lap. Traction required as he in the first sector. We mentioned

earlier he was setting the pace in the middle sector, so he is on his

way to challenging for pole position as we watch Rosberg flat

out through 12, hard on the brakes. Nice early apex into 13. Now it is

down to horsepower and as much drag as you can get off the car as

possible, opening up the DRS. can see the sparks fly as he hit

the kerb on the inside. Can Nico Rosberg maker two pole positions?

He cannot. Fourth place the Nico Rosberg and that could be beaten by

Mark Webber. The two Red Bull cars are fighting for pole position. It

looks nice and tidy for the Australians will stop can he get

his tent pole position? He is fast this at 1:32 point six. The

Sebastian Vettel, the double world champion has done its. Sebastian

Vettel takes pole position. Hamilton is about to come across

the line as well. It is Sebastian Vettel, his father -- first pole

position of 2012. His second in Bahrain, but it was on a longer

track this time. The Mark Webber seemed late getting the throttle

open after a number of 14 and that crucially made the difference will

stop this afternoon, smiles back on the faces of the Red Bull boys.

Jenson Button looked like he had aborted his lap to go for pole

position. TEAM RADIO: Yes, we have got it! A sense of relief the

Sebastian Vettel. He was on pole position in Brazil at the end of

last season, but it has been a struggle at the beginning of this

year. What happened to Rosberg? Classic inside left front, locking

up. David, we have Red Bull, McLaren, Red Bull, McLaren on the

grid. It does look like they are evenly matched. It depends a lot on

what tyres they have saved and what the pace they can put in. Sebastian

Vettel and Hamilton were incredibly close. So far, and Red Bull have

on. Further down the order, ones to watch out for, particularly Michael

Schumacher. He will have lots of tyres available. Think back to Mark

Webber last year. Michael Schumacher could do it a from there.

The man at the front of the pack, the fastest man here today and only

just in front of Lewis Hamilton, what was it like this afternoon?

Very tight, to be honest. We did not have the best Q1, Q2. I think

Michael went out in Q1. Kimi Raikkonen did not make it to Q3. We

were close both times. We would have loved to have been more

comfortable. Good drama. Yes, for you guys. But when you are in the

car and the garage, it is not nicest feeling. Is Q3, we can make

another step. In Q2, we could not get another lap in and decided to

pit. We have had the best lap of the day. I was very pleased. It has

been a great feeling. Especially I think we owe this one to the boys

in the garage, they have been working so hard. So little sleep, I

don't know how they do it, I would them, it is the best feeling.

Tonight, they can have a beer, maybe two, but no more, because we

need a good pit-stop tomorrow! It is good for all of us to know that

we can do it. We should have a good car tomorrow. Racing here is very

tight, the tyres will be crucial, to look after them, but if you

start at the front, it make sure life a little bit easier at the

beginning of the race. -- it makes your life. You run a scrubbed set,

and you did the last lap on a new set deal or no deal did you know it

would be enough when you cross the line? I looked up, because there is

a screen at the end of the straight, and I could see that they were

showing me. I saw a green time, I could not read it. My eyes are not

that good! Probably, it was good enough at the time, but you do not

know who is coming next. But then I was told that we had made it. It

was a great relief. You put everything into the last lap. A bit

too much here and there, that is it. To get it across the line first of

all, you are happy, no ring you have not made a mistake, you have

got everything out of it. Thank you for joining us, beer for your team,

good luck tomorrow. He has spoken to us, so perhaps we should see the

lap that has given him proposition. Where did he manage to pick up the

pole position? The pressure to get the breaking-point right is immense.

He aced the first sector, one of the quickest men through the run.

The short run down to the fourth corner. To hedge and 70 kilometres

an hour. You can rent out on to the old Grand Prix track. -- you can

run out. The high-speed chicane. A blast of DRS as you drop down the

hill. Crucially, he gets the apex. At this point, the next tricky part,

up over the crest, into the ninth and 10th corners. At this point,

because of a head wind. This is the corner where you talk about

speeding too much. It sounds beautiful, using all of the track.

You have the sensation of the cargo and slightly light, and you drop

into 13th. -- car running slightly light. At this point, he will have

got the confirmation that this was a better lap, by 0.4 seconds. He

uses any ers that he has got. does he know he is on pole

position? He looked at the big screen, and on the radio it said,

pole position. It is his first of the season, congratulations to

Sebastian Vettel. Congratulations, first and third, a

great effort. It is a great team result, our best qualifying of the

year. Sebastian Vettel got it together, Mark Webber had a bit of

traffic in the middle sector, but the first and third sectors, as a

fantastic -- it is a fantastic result. We have performed better

than expectations in qualifying, but there is a long race ahead

tomorrow. It is fantastic to be starting on the pole position. And

just behind in third. But a long, hard race tomorrow. That side of

the grid should be the good side. hope so. The Mercedes and McLaren

cars are pretty quick, so it will be tough. It will be a long race,

the temperature will be high, the strategy will play a key part.

Hopefully, we can put on a good display.

Good luck. Gary Anderson not struggling to get

a smile! The only man quick enough to split them was Lewis Hamilton.

He has been it in incredible form so far this season. He has had a

few issues, he has not looked completely at ease. A few drivers

have been battling the ever- changing conditions. It dropped

from 42 degrees to 40 degrees. It is a constantly evolving process.

We are on board with Lewis Hamilton, the exit of the chicane, and a

lock-up. He goes extremely wide. You can feel the shockwave going

through his spine. He goes into a lower mode on the engine. A

troubled journey toward second place on the grid. He starts the

race in second place, Jenson Button a bit behind in fourth place.

It is still so tight at the top, second place tomorrow, how do you

feel? Very happy to be there, I am very happy with the qualifying. In

not of the sessions, I have been trying to improve, -- in all of the

sessions. Today, I would quickly in my first run, and quicker in the

second run. I am happy I have been able to keep the consistency. We

are in a good position, we do not have any issues, so we can fight

for the lead from the start. imagine you have been missing the

Red Bull cars over the last few weeks, did you think, they are

back?! I knew they were there. I have always thought they are the

quickest. If you look at the race pace of the last four races, Mark

Webber has had the fastest. We do they will quit. I was struggling a

bit in qualifying, but they have brought an upgrade package. They

are only just under 0.1 ahead of us. Tyre management will be crucial

tomorrow. It is close between making it two stops and three stops,

it depends how you want to do it. You can try to make two stops, and

you have to expect the last few laps to fade a bit. If you are

making three stops, you have to overtake people. This is not a

great track for overtaking. I do not know how it will play out.

Fourth place tomorrow, how tough was it, and how important was it to

save the tyres? It is quite a strange experience, everybody

driving slowly, but all in all, not too bad. Fourth place is not what I

had four, it is always a horrible feeling on the last lap when the

balance is not quite where you want it and it was on the previous round.

I pitted early, which is not a bad thing. Fewer laps on all of the

tyres is a positive, and it is not a bad position. Is it a headache to

see Red Bull back up there? makes the race a lot more fun. I am

looking forward to the challenger. Every four smile, he knows it is

ominous when Red Bull start towards the front -- rueful smile. How will

Michael Schumacher feel, he starts in 17th? This is where you have got

the least effect from picking up the slipstream, it is one of the

more difficult tracks to overtake. The Michael Schumacher had issues

with his real wind it, we did not see that, but he is only 0.3

seconds behind Nico Rosberg. Nico Rosberg was so good in China, so

perfect in qualifying and in the race, and he gave us a good example

of how this can be a difficult circuit. He got extremely wide. I

suspect he did not realise there was trouble in that area, because

he commits to running over it. They have got a double Tiare system. --

double DRS system. It was serious celebrations for Nico Rosberg last

week, for tomorrow, he starts in fifth place.

Perhaps not the same Amersham's as last Saturday, but are you happy

with how it went today? The same emotions? I would prefer to the

first, but in general, we have been working more to the race, so we

have important chances for tomorrow. We are well prepared, and looking

much better than we have been, especially in these conditions.

What will be the key to Tamara? Management of the tyres? Yes,

driving carefully. If he is saying it is difficult

here, imagine driving a Ferrari! They look like they have got a real

struggle. At various points, they were looking closer to the pace,

but there are clearly issues with the balance. The main runners are

having difficulty with locking up, Ferrari are struggling with

oversteer. Not much going on outside Ferrari at the moment,

looking at disappointed. You have raced against them for years, what

will they do between here and arriving in Spain? They will have

always been targeting Spain as the big upgrade of the season. It is so

difficult to do much when you on the road. You are putting things in

a box and taking it into the next Grand Prix. But they will hope to

make a big step forward to Fernando Alonso's home Grand Prix. He put in

an incredible that, but mind was the best he could achieve. --

incredible lap, but ninth place was the best.

Are you happy? Yes, at the end, I am the ninth place, so it is a good

starting position, on the clean side. It was a strange qualifying,

reduced or of the sets of tyres available, so we arrive with

nothing in Q3 -- which used all of the sets of tyres macro. I expect a

very tough race in terms of degradation and taking care of the

tyres will be a key factor. many pit-stops? A lot! At the

moment, if you believe the numbers, we will not have the tyres to

finish the race, but the track will improve over the weekend, soulless

degradation. Between three and four, I guess.

Paul di Resta, stunning. We did not see much of you, but you putting a

great performance, just behind Fernando Alonso. -- you put in a

great performance. It was a difficult session, we played catch-

up. The conditions were different. The wind changed yesterday

lunchtime and it has been there since. It was difficult this

morning, but we opted not to change too much and to go with what we

know. But tyres would make a bigger difference. The track came to us

gradually as the runs went on, we were able to increase and the

competitiveness. The left in Q2 was very good. -- lap. We took a

decision not to run in Q3 based on faster cars about us. It seems very

understated, saying it is a very good lap. Looking at the time

difference, it must have been an excellent lap. Are you can't

because you are looking at how the race will play out? Is that why you

seem reasonably calm after what seemed like a great session?

whole team, the buzz was getting into Q3. Having done a lap like

that, you can be happy, but you score points tomorrow. Even coming

10th tomorrow, we will be extremely happy, and we will be happy tonight.

Having missed a session, everybody has worked hard, and at the end of

the day, you start in the best was Heikki Kovalainen. Let's ride

on board with him. This is the end of his lap. Acing number 14 thought

stop running for the line and how could must this had been for

Caterham and high Kate Tewke -- Heikki Kovalainen to be told you're

through to Q2 and you have just knocked out Michael Schumacher?

did it feel not just to make it through to Q2, but two books out

pace tomorrow or do you think you will be swamped by a couple of cars

behind you? I think we have shown better pace in the races than

qualifying. If it continues, hopefully we will be in the mix. It

is changing day by day, it is difficult to get the right range

with these tyres and the sweet spot. We are all prepared for tomorrow

and I am only looking forwards. do look backwards because Michael

Schumacher is right behind us. does not matter who it is.

doesn't matter if it is Michael. He has so much experience. Other

drivers don't matter. This will make happy viewing. Let's confirm

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 62 seconds

a quick word from Gary Anderson, our technical expert. Red Bull back

at the front? It is impressive. Tomorrow is the big day. Tyre

strategy will be everything. A3 stock race or be the best. Lewis

Hamilton was saying maybe a two. But I would say it will be A3 or a..

The teams have no data because there was no race in 2011. 2010 was

a different circuit. It will be the driver who understands the tyres

burst tomorrow. Were we will wait and see how it pans out. But this

is not it for Formula One and the BBC this afternoon. Tomorrow, all

of the action tomorrow of the Bahrain Grand Prix. Alongside us is

the BBC's sports Correspondent who has been here for a couple of days.

It has been difficult to separate the politics of Formula One from

what is happening on the track? is, but it is about business,

politics as it is about results. Last week, when the Formula One

chief, Bernie Ecclestone and the Bahraini authorities and made the

bold decision about going ahead with this Grand Prix, especially

after coming here after last year's cancellation, they were hoping the

controversy would have died down. But Formula One is not immune from

what goes on outside the confines of this cocooned. Force India and

Sauber have experienced the unrest. This race promises to be the most

controversial in many seasons. It will be remembered as the one man

raised many difficult on personal questions as to whether or not

sport can and should make decisions based on morality as well as its