Summary

  • Hamilton on pole, Vettel 2nd, Rosberg 3rd, Raikkonen 4th

  • Hamilton dominant in Q1 & Q2

  • Alonso through to Q2 for first time this season

  • Button breaks down in Q1, will start last

  1. Thanks and goodbyepublished at 18:31 British Summer Time 18 April 2015

    We're pulling the shutters up now. Thanks, as per, for your company and contributions.

    We're back with you tomorrow from 14:30 BST to build up to the fourth round of F1 2015.

    Lights out (under the lights) at 16:00 BST.

    Last year's race saw a brilliant fight for victory between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. Will the two serve up something similar, or will those racy Ferraris elbow in on the action?

    We'll have all the answers for you tomorrow.

    And who knows, maybe we'll be served up more of THIS:

    Pastor Maldonado & Esteban GutierrezImage source, Getty Images

    Until tomorrow...

  2. Get involved - what's up with Nico? #bbcf1published at 18:15 British Summer Time 18 April 2015

    Calixto Érico: Nothing. He is simply up against three incredible pilots. 7 World Driver Championships & 95 wins between LH, SV & KR.

    Mike Smith: I think the new communication rules favour Lewis a lot. Rosberg was always looking for advice from the team where Lewis just drives.

    Rudi: He is a very good driver but in his head he is THE best. Can't stand to lose so often from his team mate, it destroys him.

  3. Pictures of the daypublished at 18:14 British Summer Time 18 April 2015

    Jenson ButtonImage source, AP
  4. Pictures of the daypublished at 18:12 British Summer Time 18 April 2015

    Bahrain GP
  5. Get involved - what's up with Nico? #bbcf1published at 18:07 British Summer Time 18 April 2015

    Anne Kingston: Unless he has a quick session with a sports psychologist he has already lost the mental battle and thus the confidence.

    Sam Elliott: Outclassed, out-thought, out-driven. A good driver but not a great driver. Lewis too strong.

    Neil: In his head, he's already beaten. Every time, LH just that bit faster - and he doesn't seem able to handle that.

  6. Pictures of the daypublished at 17:58 British Summer Time 18 April 2015

    Nico RosbergImage source, Getty Images
  7. Watch Hamilton's pole lappublished at 17:58 British Summer Time 18 April 2015

    Ride on board as Lewis Hamilton takes his fourth consecutive pole position of the season with a lap of 1 minute 32.571 seconds.

    BBC
  8. Get involved - what's up with Nico? #bbcf1published at 17:51 British Summer Time 18 April 2015

    Alex Ball: I think Nico has had it, bye bye race win.

    Ian Brown: Strange comment from Rosberg - he was saving tyres & was surprised at his slow pace. Is the aim not to be 1st?

    Blake: I wonder what excuses he's going to make now? What was that, Lewis not quick enough?

  9. Pictures of the daypublished at 17:49 British Summer Time 18 April 2015

    bahrainImage source, Reuters
  10. Pictures of the daypublished at 17:47 British Summer Time 18 April 2015

    Valtteri BottasImage source, Getty Images
  11. Button staying positivepublished at 17:44 British Summer Time 18 April 2015

    BBC

    McLaren's Jenson Button remains positive about his weekend despite suffering a third car failure of the weekend in the first part of qualifying.

    Button's car suffered electrical problems in both practice sessions on Friday and the 2009 world champion thinks it was the same fault which ended his qualifying session early.

    He says the car was nevertheless "enjoyable" to drive in third practice and is looking forward to the race on Sunday, for which Button will line up 20th and last.

    Watch the full interview here.

  12. Get involved - what's up with Nico? #bbc1published at 17:39 British Summer Time 18 April 2015

    Coming into this weekend, Mercedes' Nico Rosberg made it clear that he needed to turn the tide in his battle with Lewis Hamilton for the world title.

    Yet on the evidence of today's action, the gulf between the two arguably looks bigger than ever.

    Lewis Hamilton & Nico RosbergImage source, AP

    Having taken pole in Bahrain each of the last two years, this was a track Rosberg would have targeted as an opportunity to fight back.

    But instead Hamilton took his fourth pole of the season, leaving his team-mate trailing half a second in arrears.

    Rosberg said he under-estimated the Ferrari's speed and that he lacked rhythm. But is this just part of a more worrying trend?

    Let us know your thoughts on the Rosberg-Hamilton battle using #bbcf1

  13. Postpublished at 17:23 British Summer Time 18 April 2015

    Sauber on Twitter: We might be up for a nice fight between Mercedes and Ferrari tomorrow! And we will #PushForPoints.

  14. Driver reactionpublished at 17:17 British Summer Time 18 April 2015

    Nico Rosberg: P3 - 1:33.129: "Strategy wise I got it wrong. I was thinking too much about the race and I under-estimated Sebastian's speed. I took it easy in Q2 to save the race tyres, so I lacked the rhythm for Q3. That's where I went wrong today. Being third is not ideal."

    Lewis Hamilton
  15. Driver reactionpublished at 17:17 British Summer Time 18 April 2015

    Sebastian Vettel: P2 - 1:32.982: "First of all I am very happy with second place. It was a tough session and I didn't find the rhythm I had in practice at the beginning but felt more comfortable near the end. Hopefully we will have good race tomorrow."

    Vetetl BahrainImage source, F1
  16. Driver reactionpublished at 17:16 British Summer Time 18 April 2015

    Lewis Hamilton: P1 - 1:32.571: "I feel great. I feel very happy. Obviously coming in to the weekend that was the target to master the track and get the car into an area that I'm happy with. I'm really grateful to have this beast underneath me to attack these corners.

    "They (Ferrari) are very quick this weekend. They're going to be very hard to beat this weekend hopefully our positioning helps. I think were in a good position. Looking forward to the fight."

    Lewis BahrainImage source, F1
  17. A stat almost too good to believepublished at 17:13 British Summer Time 18 April 2015

    Here's a highly unlikely stat, but one which is, we are assured, quite true.

    The opening weeks of the 2015 season have delivered a notable first in the sport, as for the first time ever the same drivers have filled the top three places at the first three grands prix.

    Yep, seemed unlikely to me too but there you have it.

    Today's top three qualifiers - Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel - are the three history-makers.

    They are perfectly placed to make it four in a row on Sunday.

    Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg & Sebastian VettelImage source, AP
  18. Driver interviews coming uppublished at 17:11 British Summer Time 18 April 2015

    Just to say we'll have reaction from the top three in the next few minutes.

    Top 3 bahrainImage source, F1
  19. Qualifying - speed trap timespublished at 17:11 British Summer Time 18 April 2015

    Speed TrapImage source, F1
  20. Postpublished at 17:09 British Summer Time 18 April 2015

    Toro Rosso on Twitter: WELL DONE, WELL DONE Carlos Sainz!! A P9 for tomorrow's race!! #GRANDE