Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer in Bahrain

Two races into his Grand Prix career, and Anglo-Thai Alexander Albon has out-qualified team-mate Daniil Kvyat at both of them. Albon said he was happy with how things were going, but was disappointed not to be in the top 10. He ran wide at the last corner on his best lap, and that was the chance gone.

Still, Albon has been quietly impressive so far - not least for the way at both races he has been able to put it together for qualifying after appearing to struggle a little through the weekend. “I’m happy with the progress,” he said.

“Now it is all about trying to address it quicker. I am a bit gutted we didn’t get into Q3 because I do think the car was there for Q3.” Kvyat was very grumpy after qualifying - the team made a mistake in sending him out on used tyres for his final run in Q2 and he ended up 15th.

Image source, Getty Images

On Saturday Sebastian Vettel's upper lip fuzz got you all talking and the comparisons went from Super Mario, to Dick Dastardly and 1970's lounge singer, but looking back through F1 history who has had the most epic facial hair?

After much deliberation the top 3 are...

1. Harald Ertl

2. Daniel Ricciardo

3. Fernando Alonso

Do you all agree?

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

Our commentary duo of Jack Nicholls and Jolyon Palmer are on air on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra, and can be heard at the top of the page.

The track is a crazy place as normal. Everyone wants to speak to David Beckham. Martin Brundle on Sky Sports starts off an interview with film director 'Guy Ritchie' with 'hello Guy', and the bemused onlooker says 'I'm not Guy, he's over there'.

Beckham says it is organised chaos. Sums it up nicely. Not long now.

A few different potential strategies, say Pirelli.

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer in Bahrain

Image source, Getty Images

The last few races - stretching back into 2018 - have been slam-dunk one stops, but that’s not the case here.

The teams will try to go for a one stop if they can make it, but Valtteri Bottas said: “The Tarmac is a bit rougher and we have less tread on the tyres so in theory the tyre life is shorter.

"Last year, one stop was not easy, and we saw some big drop-off at the end of the stints. This year it can be very difficult to do a one stop. There might be a possibility but that is something we will find as we go. I’m sure around the pit stops it can be quite interesting. The two Ferraris and our cars fighting with them.”

If it becomes a two-stop, as Toto Wolff said: “There is a multitude of strategies with the tyres teams have left. It will be a learning on the job and seeing how far you can stretch the initial stint.”

And these are the sets that are available...

Pirelli's tyre choice this weekend... the hardest of the selection.

Image source, Pirelli Twitter

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer in Bahrain

After Lando Norris’ impressive performance in qualifying eighth in Australia, both cars made it into the top 10 in Bahrain.

There have been big changes at McLaren as a result of their difficult 2018, and as Carlos Sainz put it after qualifying seventh: “Getting both cars in to Q3 shows their hard work over the winter is paying off. Everyone should be proud.”

He and Norris have been nip and tuck all weekend, but a lock-up in Q3 cost Norris a little time and he ended up three places and 0.23secs behind. Sporting director Gil De Ferran called it “a good day at the office”.

It looks very much like there could well be many more this season.

Image source, EPA

Hayley Morris: Lots of talk of whether the Ferraris can race. I think many people are underestimating Vettel in a racing situation against a team-mate. Just ask Mark Webber.

The omens are not too good for Red Bull today...

Image source, .

Image source, BTCC.net

"Do you want to sit in a wheelchair all your life or actually get up and work on your condition?"

That was the question Nic Hamilton had to ask himself - and he answered it in some fashion.

Born with Cerebral Palsy, he was never expected to walk, let alone race, but now the 27-year-old is set to embark on a season in the British Touring Car Championship.

Hamilton became the first disabled driver to compete in the BTCC in 2015 when he took part in the second half of the season and now he is ready for a full year in the series.

As the younger brother of Formula 1 champion Lewis, Hamilton is determined to forge his own reputation on the track.

Read the full story.

Mixed fortunes yesterday for Renault, as Nico Hulkenberg, who had finished fifth in practice on Friday, failed to make it out of Q3. Ricciardo, his team-mate, starts 10th after benefiting from the penalty for Romain Grosjean.

This is our track today, 57 laps of the 5.412km circuit.

Image source, .

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer in Bahrain

It has not been a happy start to the season for Renault, who have failed to get either driver into the top 10 on the grid at either race.

In Bahrain, Nico Hulkenberg had looked odds-on to do it until an engine mapping issue put his power unit into safe mode and he dropped out in the first session.

Daniel Ricciardo, who had been struggling through practice, was in better shape in qualifying but also missed out, ending up 11th - and again an engine mapping blip cost him what he believed was a place in the top 10.

The Australian admitted he was over-driving the Renault. “I am carrying quite a bit of entry speed at the moment but killing everything on the exit,” he said, the reason being he is used to the Red Bull’s higher downforce.

“There are some set-up things on the car that I was quite vocal about in testing and trying to give the team some direction,” Ricciardo said. "There will be some new parts on the car to help these things I’m describing maybe even as early as next race and these things could potentially give me that feeling and some confidence. Hopefully Nico tries it and likes it as well and it’s better for both of us.”

Image source, Getty Images

Rod: If Ferrari have any sense they will let them race. So far this season Leclerc has shown he has the greater claim to be No.1 in the team.

I said David Beckham is here, and here he is, standing in front of an absolutely huge Lewis Hamilton, apparently.

Image source, Getty Images

We've already had some action on the Bahrain track today...

UNI-Virtuosi Racing's Luca Ghiotto won the F2 sprint race in Bahrain, and now leads the championship with 37 points after his double podium success this weekend - he had also finished Saturday's feature race in second.

Mick Schumacher started on pole but finished outside the top five in sixth for the Prema Racing team.

Race one winner, Nicholas Latifi finished on the podium in third, with his DAMS team-mate Sergio Sette Camara getting ahead of him in second place. Tatiana Calderon ended the 23-lap event in 15th.

British drivers, Jordan King, Jack Aitken and Callum Ilott ended the sprint race in eighth, 11th and 16th respectively.

It is P7 for Carlos Sainz and McLaren. After qualifying, he tweeted this...

"If Charles is fast enough to stay in front, we will let him stay there." says Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto on Sky Sports.

Ferrari are certainly saying the right things so far. Let's hope it pans out that way.