Hamilton on pole, Rosberg 2nd, Vettel 3rd, Raikkonen 4th
Kvyat and Button out - Vandoorne ahead of Briton in Q2
Renaults and Perez out in Q1, Wehrlein 16th
Fernando Alonso watches on from the pit lane as Sebastian Vettel heads the queue of cars making their way on the track. Super softs all the way.
Here's the format for Q1:
Tom Clarkson
BBC Radio 5 live commentator
A great headline for F1 at the end of FP3 to see Ferrari quickest. The problem they have is that track conditions will be incredibly different now. The track temperatures have come down and the car can feel so difference. Mercedes say they have been setting up their car for the conditions now, whereas Ferrari may have had to go back to the drawing board.
A beautiful sunset once again in Bahrain.
Hopefully we'll be in for a far more exciting qualifying session than the one we had in Australia. If not, we'll have lots of pretty pictures at least...
Image source, Getty ImagesThe first winner of the Bahrain Grand Prix - Michael Schumacher - won the race from pole, finishing ahead of Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button.
Schumacher shares the record for the most pole positions in Bahrain with Sebastian Vettel and Nico Rosberg. They have two each, but a good chance Vettel or Rosberg will take sole ownership of the record today.
Image source, Getty Images
BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
BBC Radio 5 live commentators Jack Nicholls and Mark Gallagher are ready to go in the BBC commentary box.
You can listen to them on 5 live sports extra and online from 15:55 BST.
Not everyone in Bahrain is happy that a grand prix race is held there and, as has been the case in recent years, there have been some protests against it this week by Bahraini anti-government protesters.
Image source, AP
Image source, Getty ImagesSecuring pole position is far from a sure fire way to win the Bahrain GP - 45% of the races at the Sakhir circuit have been won from pole.
Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer in Bahrain
Beyond qualifying, the other headlines from Jean Todt’s press meeting were that he is very supportive of the drivers being involved in decision-making and advisory - in fact he encourages it and actively attempts to facilitate it. The governance of F1 is what it is and cannot be changed ahead of 2021, although it would be “logical” for the FIA to have the final choice on F1-related issues, but that he was “not a dictator and am against dictatorship”.
F1 director Charlie Whiting, who was also at the meeting, said the 2017 rules had been formulated to make the cars faster but without making overtaking any more difficult and that a significant proportion of the increased lap time would come from increased mechanical grip. And on tyres, it was emphasised that Pirelli had committed to provide whatever F1 asked for.
Image source, Getty ImagesRandom thought. You never see singer-songwriter Paul Simon and Jean Todt in the same room, do you?
Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer in Bahrain
Image source, Getty ImagesFIA president Jean Todt held a news conference this afternoon ahead of the start of final practice and he said the issue of the format of qualifying will be addressed in a meeting between himself, Bernie Ecclestone and the team principals on Sunday morning.
He said he had not offered teams the chance to vote on reverting to 2015 following their agreement to do so in Australia because they had previously agreed to adopt a revised version of the new system, but with the 2015 Q3. This is what he offered as an alternative to the current system, on the basis that there was nothing wrong with Q1 and Q2. He said this option is what he would choose himself, if he had the option to decide - elimination in Q1 and Q2, with a slight tweaking of their length, and revert Q3 to 2015.
He said he was “optimistic” unanimous agreement would be achieved on Sunday.
Image source, F1.comRight. Qualifying. Suppose we better get our head around the details again. Here's how it is all going to go down.
Q1
Q2
Q3
Why do the Vettels look bemused?
Image source, GettThere's one former F1 driver celebrating a birthday today and that is Fabrizio Barbazza, who is 53 today., external
Barabazza competed in eight races for Minardi in 1993, finishing sixth at the European and San Marino grands prix.
Found yourself struggling to sleep at night because you are desperate to know what he is up to these days? Apparently runs a fishing business in Cuba...
Image source, Fabrizio BarbazzaAndrew Benson
Chief F1 writer in Bahrain
Nico Rosberg sat down in the Mercedes hospitality area after final practice and said: “Those red guys are quick.” You’re that worried, I asked him. “Yeah,” he replied.
Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen were 0.4secs quicker than Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton earlier and Mercedes believe they have a real fight on their hands in qualifying.
Will Ferrari be as far ahead when it matters? Probably not. Ferrari turned up their engines fully in final practice and Mercedes did not, and the world champions lost some pace in the hotter conditions that they may get back in the qualifying dark. But there have a fight on their hands here, there is no doubt about that.
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Speaking of drivers and their dads, Max Verstappen posted a video him preparing for the Bahrain Grand Prix by sparring with his dad.
I bet there was some built up teenage frustration released in those punches...
"That's not letting me play on the Playstation after 9pm..."