Formula One Vault

BAHRAIN GP – Raikkonen heads a Ferrari one two in FP1

Kimi Raikkonen went fastest in a Ferrari one-two in first practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix while Mercedes were well down in the timesheets with Nico Rosberg 15^th and Lewis Hamilton 16^th.

With the second practice taking place in the evening the high track temperate Mercedes may have taken a different approach opting to do there long runs in the evening session.

Raikkonen’s fastest lap came toward the end of the session after temperatues dropped to the mid-40s. Valtteri Bottas was third fastest for Williams and Spanish rookie Carlos Sainz fourth in a Toro Rosso, ahead of Red Bull’s Australian Daniel Ricciardo.

Fernando Alonso had a good afternoon briefly going seventh fastest for McLaren however Jenson Button, failed to record a lap time after spinning and stopping on track in the opening minutes with what appeared to be an engine shutdown.

Mercedes are expected to take the win on Sunday with a repeat of last year’s race highly expected following there spat following last weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix.