Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer in Bahrain

Tyre strategy could have a major influence on this race. Daniel Ricciardo was saying on Saturday that he thinks “everyone in the top eight is going to do a two-stop and then you can prime-prime or whatever”. But Mercedes cannot use two sets of the prime (medium) tyre because they only have one for each driver. So their strategy has to be either two sets of softs after the super-softs they start on, or one each of medium and soft. 

Ferrari, by contrast, have enough sets of mediums to use them throughout the race after their first stop if they wish.    

Thanks very much to all who took part in our vote on whether F1 should revert to the 2015 qualifying format.

The verdict was clear - of 4529 voters, 4050 said yes (89% of those who took part) and only 479 (11%) chose no.

But will Bernie and Jean listen?

Three-time world champion Sir Jackie Stewart tells Radio 5 live's Tom Clarkson that he expects pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton to win today and says his fellow triple title-holder is at the top of his game.

"I think he's better than he's ever been and I think he will get even better," said Stewart.

"He's been racing a long time - and the car is so good as well."

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer in Bahrain

The impressive debut of the new Ferrari-affiliated Haas team continues, Romain Grosjean taking ninth on the grid and saying he felt he could have improved and made it into Q3, but that he preferred to start where he is, and have free tyre choice for the race. 

"We didn't think we would finish that high up," the Frenchman said. “Of course, the target was to go into Q2, to make an improvement from the first race and not mess up again with the new format, which we did not, so everyone is pleased with that. I think P9 is the best position right now. We could have had another go to get into Q3, but there was no point in terms of tyre usage for the race. In fact, I was just sat there and I was hoping someone would overtake me, and that I would drop from P8 to P9, which is a bit strange, but that's the way it is with the new tyres.” 

Team-mate Esteban Gutierrez starts 13th, a couple of 10ths behind Grosjean. 

Image source, Getty Images

Toro Rosso's Carlos Sainz, who will start from 11th on the grid, tells BBC Radio 5 live: "I think we have a good chance. We have a lot of strategy options and I think it's going to be a very exciting race.

"It's going to be a long race with options of going for two or three stops. Melbourne was not the perfect result for the team and myself but hopefully we have learnt from that."

First held: 2004

Circuit length: 5.412 km (3.363 mi)  

Race length: 308.405 km (191.634 mi)  

The lights are on with the sun just starting to set and we're getting shots of that beautiful, rust red sky above the Sakhir circuit.

A stunning race aesthetically. Hopefully the action will prove just as good. 

Fifteen minutes until lights out.

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer in Bahrain

Williams have always said they knew that holding on to third place in the constructors’ championship this year was going to be a battle and so it is proving. Red Bull are now a serious threat, following winter improvements to the Renault engine and Williams know they need to improve their car. A new front wing was debuted in Bahrain this weekend but it’s fair to say the car is not optimised around it yet. 

"We mounted the new front wing and nose this afternoon and the car was very difficult to drive, it was a different balance," said Massa, who qualified seventh one place and just 0.003secs ahead of Bottas. 

”We had a long meeting after the (practice) session, we used the new one and the old one, and the numbers said it gave what it is supposed to give. Then we changed completely the balance of the car, the set-up, so many things and it was more or less in the correct way in qualifying. We decided to use it and managed to improve our time which was important. We took a bit of risk but I hope maybe the risk can give a benefit in the race."   

Image source, EPA

Twenty minutes to go. Enough time for a quick caption competition, and this picture is begging for one.

People, the floor is yours #bbcf1, external

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer in Bahrain

Image source, Getty Images

Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo produced one of the laps of his career to qualify fifth, on a day on which he believed he would struggle to get into the final qualifying session. 

“It’s weird getting that excited about a fifth,” the Australian said, the trademark grin even wider than usual, “but it was right up there.” 

Why were Red Bull so strong on a track where power is so important, he was asked. “Probably the driver,” he said. “See ya, guys.” And stood up as if he was going to leave his news conference. 

He was probably right, though. Team boss Christian Horner said the lap was “right up there”. 

Team-mate Daniil Kvyat was struggling down in 18th and was at a loss to explain the lack of pace; Horner said he felt he had probably “got a little lost” on set-up. Whatever, two poor qualifying sessions is not the way the Russian would have wanted to start a season in which his seat is on the line.

Image source, Getty Images

Jennie Gow fancies Lewis Hamilton to get his first win of the season today, with Sebastian Vettel gaining a place to take second.

Agree? Send in your predictions to #bbcf1, external