Like most drivers last weekend, Nico Hulkenberg finished the Japanese Grand Prix in his qualifying position of 16th. The Sauber driver has six points on the board so far this season and has put his car fifth in the timesheets today with a 1:36.035 on the hard compound.

Lewis Hamilton is seventh on the timesheets, eight laps in to a stint on the hard tyres. His engineer asks does he want to do one more push? That would be a no. "It feels horrendous, mate," replies the seven-time world champion.

1. Lando Norris (McLaren) - 1:35.249

2. Alex Albon (Williams) +0.503

3. Esteban Ocon (Haas) +0.849

4. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) +0.929

5. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +0.987

The temperatures are sweltering in Bahrain compared to the unusually cold conditions we saw in pre-season testing a few months ago. Oscar Piastri says his car feels OK, but the australian has "zero grip", while Liam Lawson informs Racing Bulls the balance of his car is "shocking".

Seems like no driver is feeling confident just yet.

While Kimi Antonelli returns to the pits for a check-up Lando Norris puts in the fastest time on the medium tyres with a 1:35.249. I got your thumbs working early before we started and asked who should be number one driver at McLaren. At the moment, Norris is winning this mini vote.

In the upgraded Ferrari, meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton is on the phone to his pit wall to inform them the balance of the car just doesn't feel right.

Looks like Kimi Antonelli has also had a lock-up which has flat-spotted his front right tyre. He's back on the radio to Pete Bonnington to say he has no power. "Copy that, mate," comes the calm reply.

Ayumu Iwasa and Ryo Hirakawa are first rookies to put down times in Bahrain, Haas driver Hirakawa the quicker of the two on a set of the medium tyres. Esteban Ocon leads the timesheets 1:36.579 but the Frenchman tells his pit wall the call is pulling in the straights.

Teenager Kimi Antonelli is also in trouble, telling Mercedes he has an issue. So in comes the Italian for some early TLC.

McLaren's strategy, Ferrari's pace, overtaking in Bahrain. These are just some of the talking points commentator Harry Benjamin is looking at ahead of this weekend's race.

First off, solidarity to everyone who is suffering with hay fever at the moment. The warm weather is very welcome here in the UK but my word, my eyes and nose can't take much more. If you need a live-text cuddle, here's one now.

No surprise to see the rookies out early in first practice. Ayumu Iwasa, sitting in for Max Verstappen, leads the field out in the Red Bull.

Zero confusion as to who Yuki Tsunoda drives for these days; the man was representing Red Bull head to toe when he walked in the paddock earlier on.

First practice is green.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Both sessions today are available on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds and at the top of this page using the 'listen live' tab. You can also ask BBC Sounds to play Bahrain Grand Prix practice one and practice two via most smart speakers.

Greetings this weekend to Harry Benjamin, former McLaren mechanic Marc Priestley and F1 correspondent Andrew Benson.

Tyre management will be key in the scorching heat this weekend and Italian manufacturer Pirelli has brought along the hardest compounds in the range to Bahrain. Teams and drivers can choose from the C1 (white, hard), C2 (yellow, medium) and C3 (red, soft) - the same tyres as Japan.

In the drivers news conference on Thursday, it was pointed out to 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli the tarmac in Sakhir is older than him. Haas' Esteban Ocon said Bahrain is a "very rough track - the roughest on the calendar".

A well-worn circuit shouldn't be too much of an issue, however, as teams have a decent amount of data at their disposal after three days of testing in February.

Sun, sun and more sun. The temperates are toasty in Sakhir (unlike chilly pre-season testing in February) across all three days, with zero chance of rain interrupting proceedings.

For today, the FIA forecast says it will be sunny and extremely hot, with a northeasterly wind picking up slightly during first practice.

Image source, FIA

Four teams have brought along upgrade packages to the Bahrain International Circuit, with Ferrari introducing five performance updates this weekend as they look to close the gap on their rivals after a disappointing start to the season. Lewis Hamilton said the team are looking for a bit more downforce after a lack of overall pace so far.

Ferrari

Floor fences, floor body, floor edge, diffuser, rear wing.

Red Bull

Front wing, cooling louvres.

McLaren

Front corner.

Haas

Engine cover.

Image source, Getty Images

Three days of track action has already been completed in Bahrain, with McLaren catching the eye in pre-season testing two months ago. While they lead both the drivers' and constructors' championships after three rounds, there were questions asked about their strategy choices in Japan, and who should be number one driver in the team. Take your pick: Lando left thumb or Oscar right thumb.

Max Verstappen has taken victory here the past two years but will the Red Bull be happy in the warm Sakhir temperatures? Mercedes is another car that likes to up its performance in cooler conditions and might struggle when the heat is on.

Image source, Getty Images

There are lots of new faces for first practice today, as teams need to give rookies time in the car at four race weekends this season instead of two.

Swedish driver Dino Beganovic, seen here walking in the paddock with Williams' Luke Browning, is making his F1 practice debut in Bahrain for Ferrari.

• Red Bull - Ayumu Iwasa in for Max Verstappen
• Mercedes - Fred Vesti in for George Russell
• Aston Martin - Felipe Drugovich in for Fernando Alonso
• Ferrari - Dino Beganovic in for Charles Leclerc
• Williams - Luke Browning in for Carlos Sainz
• Haas - Ryo Hirakawa is for Ollie Bearman

Constructors' champions McLaren scored a double podium at Suzuka and are 36 points clear of second-placed Mercedes and 50 free of Red Bull in third. Ferrari are 76 points adrift of the top spot in fourth, after finishing fourth and seventh last weekend.

Alpine, meanwhile, are the only team yet to score this season. Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan - who had that massive shunt in second practice at Suzuka - finished just outside the top 10 last time out.

Image source, Getty Images/BBC Sport

His first win of the campaign puts Max Verstappen one point behind championship leader Lando Norris after three rounds of racing, with Oscar Piastri and George Russell sitting in third and fourth respectively.

Two more points in Japan keeps Alex Albon in the top 10 and ahead of Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, who is three points behind the Williams driver and five off his team-mate Charles Leclerc in sixth.

Image source, Getty Images/BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Hello, folks. Race two of this first triple header and we've touched down in the Middle East for the Bahrain Grand Prix. It's a venue every driver has recent experience on thanks to pre-season testing, so if you're a rookie, this will be a familiar weekend.

We left Japan with Max Verstappen and Red Bull celebrating, after a not-so-thrilling race at the fabled Suzuka circuit. Will this week be any more exciting? We'll find out soon.

First practice gets going at 12:30 BST.

Second practice goes green at 16:00 BST.

Image source, Getty Images

In what's said to be the fourth fastest car this season, Max Verstappen sealed a perfect win at the Japanese Grand Prix to inch closer to Lando Norris in the drivers' championship, as he looks to secure a record-equalling fifth consecutive title this season.

The Dutchman put in an "insane" pole lap on his way to Suzuka glory, so can he do it all over again this weekend in Bahrain - a track he's taken a lights-to-flag victory at the past two grands prix?