Auto News 5

General Motors is recalling 51,115 Chevrolet and GMC pickup trucks from the 2014-2015 model years to address a powertrain issue.

On certain vehicles equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission, transmission cooler lines may not have been securely seated in their fittings at time of assembly. This could result in a transmission fluid leak in proximity to hot surfaces which could increase the risk of a fire. Dealers will inspect the connections and repair them as necessary.

Affected models include:

• 2014 Chevrolet Silverado
• 2015 Chevrolet Suburban
• 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe
• 2014 GMC Sierra
• 2015 GMC Yukon
• 2015 GMC Yukon XL

Source : Transport Cananda

Canadian ‘Crazy Leo' Ulrichich took part this past weekend in his maiden FIA World Rally Championship event, the Rally de Portugal, in a Ford Fiesta R2.

The Drive DMACK Fiesta Trophy delivered on its promise to provide close competition when this weekend's opening event saw five different drivers lead the series before Estonia's Sander Pärn blasted home to steal victory on the final loop of stages at Rally de Portugal.

Toronto's 'Crazy Leo' had mixed events but benefitted from the WRC experience. He and his co-driver Andrew Roughead finished eighth in the Trophy, having complete the event in 4h 33m 42.2s

“People keep asking me about our expectations. I have to explain, that the field here is amazing, the guys are professionals, have tons of experience in the R2 car, and on these stages, so with me being completely new, our only expectation is to learn and have fun!” Leo said prior to the start.

After a cautious start, everything was going well. “We were going well when we hit a I rough rut in the middle of the road. I first though we got a flat, but the DMACK tire held up, while the suspension arm bent. We assessed, and kept going through the stages slowly hoping to finish,” recalled Leo.

“It was fine, until on the last road section the driveshaft came out of the joint, and despite all the efforts we were forced to stop. Luckily, the Super Rally allowed us to go again the following day

"This was an unbelievable experience and fantastic to come and start a WRC rally. It was very tough, difficult and a real challenge. We had some problems but it was great to cover all of the stages and really learn more about the car and stages. We have successfully finished our first WRC event and got the ‘Spirit of the Rally Award' from DMACK and M-Sport!” Leo explained.

BMW will host not one, but two world premieres at the upcoming New York Auto Show including the all-new X4 crossover and M4 Convertible.

The 2015 BMW X4 seats five and combines all the benefits of other X series models with the sporty looks and profile of a classic coupe. It will offer two engines ranging from 245 to 306 horsepower.

Photo: BMW

Meanwhile, the BMW M4 Convertible boasts a 431-horsepower, 3.0L inline six-cylinder M TwinPower Turbo engine, accelerating from 0-100 km/h in 4.4 seconds with the available seven-speed M dual-clutch transmission.

Photo: BMW

The BMW stand will also feature three North American debuts: 4 Series Gran Coupe, X3, and X5 eDrive concept.

From press release

The opening round of the 2014 Formula Renault 2.0 ALPS season, hosted this weekend at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, near Imola, Italy, proved to be the proverbial rollercoaster for Canada's Luke Chudleigh.

An opening lap collision, and immediate retirement from Saturday's first race was followed on Sunday by a more promising run until mechanical issues thwarted the teenager just a handful of laps from the chequered.

A challenging first round started with mixed conditions in Saturday morning's qualifying, with the track slowly drying from earlier rain. With Chudleigh venturing out in the Tech1 Racing entry on rain tires, originally the preferred option, the rapid change in circuit conditions ultimately hampered the Milton racer's progress. Luke subsequently secured an 11th row grid slot for both races, mid-field in the 44-strong pack and fastest of his Tech1 Racing ALPS teammates.

Saturday's race saw an encouraging start by the 19-year-old, despite being nestled in the heart of the action - with several ‘Wild Card' EuroCup entries bolstering the regular Formula Renault 2.0 ALPS field this weekend. Luke's progress was to be short lived however as he found himself with nowhere to go heading into Turn 2. Caught up in the aftermath of an accident that had happened just ahead of him, Luke's car collected a rival, the damage done forcing immediate retirement from the race.

Another rapid start to Sunday's race allowed Luke to flash his prowess, gaining spots off the line and ultimately providing one of the positives from the weekend.

Running his first race laps of the season, the Canadian worked his way through the order, with clean passes and a pace equal to his Tech1 Racing EuroCup team-mate, Anthoine Hubert, who went on to finish tenth. Sadly for Luke however, a technical issue connected to his throttle resulted in his retirement on lap 11, the Canadian forced out for the second straight race bringing to a close a frustrating weekend.

“Well it certainly wasn't the weekend we were hoping for,” stated Chudleigh upon immediate reflection. “After an event like this I can only focus on the positives. Primarily those were my race starts, both of which saw me make up position. Race 1 ended at the second turn so Sunday's race was the only opportunity to see what I could do in the dry. When comparing my lap times to Anthoine's, I was matching him so that's definitely something to I can take heart from given he collected a top-ten finish today.”

He continued; “That, combined with the consistency of my pace, is definitely a plus but both races were a challenge, not least due to the sheer amount of traffic. That said, I'm now looking forward to making my Formula Renault 2.0 EuroCup debut at Motorland at the end of the month having had a chance to race against some of those drivers here in the ALPS Series. It's all good experience for me right now so I'll take the positives and look ahead to that next race!”

Saturday and Sunday's podiums were identical with Dutch racer, Nyck de Vries victorious in both events followed at the chequered by Brazil's Bruno Bonifacio - a EuroCup wild card entry, and France's Simon Gachet.

Luke will make his Formula Renault 2.0 EuroCup debut at the opening round of the series, hosted at Spain's Motorland Aragon circuit, Friday 25th - Sunday 27th April. He'll then return to the Formula Renault 2.0 ALPS Series as Round 2 heads to France and the Grand Prix of Pau, Friday 9th to Sunday 11th May.

Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn sees great potential in Russia despite a slowdown in car sales and the Crimea crisis. He spoke after unveiling the on-Do sedan, which Nissan's Datsun brand is launching in Russia.

Russia's falling ruble, shrinking car demand and threat of additional economic sanctions are hitting automakers such as Ford and General Motors' Opel division just as their European operations are recovering from a six-year slump.

From GMM



F1 is set to allow two new teams through the paddock turnstiles for 2015.

Days ago, the sport's chief executive said the bid made by Nascar team co-owner Gene Haas to enter F1 next year has been successful.

"I think Haas will be accepted," he said last week.

Now in Bahrain, the 83-year-old Briton said a second team has also been approved.

Zoran Stefanovich, chief of the failed Stefan GP outfit, has already confirmed he has withdrawn his application after failing to agree a 2015 engine deal.

So the second new 2015 team must be the former HRT chief, Colin Kolles, who according to Germany's has the backing of wealthy Monaco-based Romanians.

Colin Kolles (Photo: HRT)

Ecclestone said on Sunday: "They (Haas) will be accepted, and we've also accepted another team as well, although whether they'll make it or not is another story.

"But we are happy to have another couple of teams. I've spoken to (FIA president) Jean Todt and we agreed."

Meanwhile, Ecclestone also told reporters in Bahrain he is confident some rule changes will be rushed through to appease fans who are unhappy with the 'new' face of F1.

It appears the major changes under consideration are a relaxing of the engine 'freeze' rules - so that struggling Renault and Ferrari can catch up - and an extra 10kg of fuel for each car per race to end the 'economy runs'.

But total unanimity is required, and dominant Mercedes' Toto Wolff on Saturday said the prospect of mid-season rule changes is "absurd".

"Mercedes are going to be behind it. I think they'll be the leaders," Ecclestone said.

"We can do things without them particularly losing their advantage," he added. "Without any doubt they have done a better job and they shouldn't be punished for that."

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo, causing a stir in the paddock on Sunday with a rare appearance ahead of his talks with Ecclestone and Todt, is clearly pushing for changes.

But he also said he respects Mercedes' position at the front of the pack.

"It doesn't mean we have to change (rules) now," said the Italian, "but we need to look ahead.

"I think not changing the rules for the short time is possible to do. I understand Mercedes' position, but for me formula one is more important so we have to have common goals."

From GMM

The battle is hotting up at Mercedes.

Red Bull's reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel, the dominant force of the last four years, summed up the mood in the paddock on Saturday when he said the silver cars are in a "different world".

Indeed, with the dominant W05, Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton have traded wins so far in 2014, but in Bahrain it was the German-born championship leader who broke his British teammate's grip on pole position.

Nico Rosberg, Mercedes W05 (Photo: WRi2)

After Rosberg was outclassed in Malaysia, many predicted Hamilton's superior one-lap speed would finally power him to his first world title since 2008.

But Sir Jackie Stewart said Rosberg cannot be ruled out.

"Nico has proved he can drive a little bit the way I drove the car, or Alain Prost drove the car, or Jim Clark did," the great Scot told the Mirror newspaper.

"We are only in the third of 19 races and Nico is a real threat," Stewart added.

Mercedes' Niki Lauda also said Bahrain proves that 2014 doesn't yet belong to Hamilton.

"I have always said that we have two equal drivers," the great Austrian, a triple world champion like Stewart, is quoted by Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

"In recent days it was claimed that Lewis is obviously stronger, so I'm pleased that now it is the other way around," Lauda added.

Also 'the other way around' in Bahrain is the pecking order at Red Bull, as Vettel - who had an ultra-rare terminal spin in practice - was outqualified by his new teammate Daniel Ricciardo for the second time in 2014.

Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull RB10 (Photo: WRi2)

"That was an incredible lap by Ricciardo," Red Bull's Dr Helmut Marko is quoted by the Austrian press. "We never thought we would get that close to the Mercedes on this track."

Ricciardo must now move ten places back due to his Malaysia pitstop error penalty, but did Saturday mark a turning point in the driver hierarchy at Red Bull?

"I don't really want to rate them," Rosberg said when asked.

"Sebastian is clearly a fantastic driver, one of the best out there and Daniel is doing a great job and definitely deserves the seat that he's got at Red Bull. It will be an interesting battle between the two," he added.

It may be an interesting battle, but Marko does not think Red Bull will be able to take the fight to Mercedes on Sunday.

"We are 15kph slower on the straights," he lamented. "So how we can overtake, I don't know."

From GMM

There were wheel-to-wheel battles throughout the field on every single lap of the Bahrain Grand Prix, this Sunday, but the jewel in the crown was the extended fight for victory between Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.

Start (Photo: WRi2)

Hamilton has been on a hot streak this season, scoring two poles and then leading Rosberg to Mercedes' first 1-2 of the season last week in Malaysia. The German answered, Saturday, with a pole of his own ahead of Hamilton, setting up the table for an exciting race between the two at the Sakhir circuit.

Hamilton surprised Rosberg off the line to take the lead going into corner 1. He would maintain that lead most of the race, as his teammate ran a different strategy. Rosberg's gamble to save a set of soft tires for the last stint seemed to be paying off, as he found himself right behind Hamilton in the final phase of the race.

Ambiance (Photo: WRi2)

But despite being on the harder "medium" tire, the 2008 world champion managed to fend off every single one of Rosberg's attacks.

The battle between the two was so intense, team boss Paddy Lowe tried to impose team orders. But the feisty silver-wearing teammates ignored him, to everyone's delight.

Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg (Photo: WRi2)

"I think today was a day for the sport," said Rosberg, who although ultimately defeated nonetheless excitedly embraced Hamilton in celebration of a much-needed boost for F1.

The race reminded Hamilton of his karting days with Rosberg: "I was just saying to (Rosberg) today, there was a race we did years ago in... I don't know what year it was, in karting, our first race together.

Nico Rosberg, Lewis Hamilton, Sergio Perez (Photo: WRi2)

"He was leading the whole way and in the last lap I overtook him and won the race. I thought today for sure he's going to do the same to me, and get me back. That's what was going through my head."

Race results* - Bahrain Grand Prix (round 3 of 19)
1 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W05) - 57 laps 1.39'42"743
2 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W05) - 1"085
3 - Sergio Perez (Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 24"067
4 - Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 24"489
5 - Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 28"654
6 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 29"879
7 - Felipe Massa (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 31"265
8 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 31"876
9 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F14-T) - 32"595
10 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari F14-T) - 33"462
11 - Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 41"342
12 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E22-Renault) - 43"143
13 - Max Chilton (Marussia MR03-Ferrari) - 59"909
14 - Pastor Maldonado (Lotus E22-Renault) - 1'02"803
15 - Kamui Kobayashi (Caterham CT05-Renault) - 1'27"900
16 - Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR03-Ferrari) - 1 lap
17 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/29-Mercedes) - 2 laps

Fernando Alonso, Ferrari F14-T (Photo: WRi2)

Retirements
Lap 40 - Kevin Magnussen
Lap 39 - Esteban Gutierrez
Lap 33 - Marcus Ericsson
Lap 18 - Jean-Eric Vergne
Lap 17 - Adrian Sutil

Drivers' championship
1.Rosberg 61; 2.Hamilton 50; 3.Hulkenberg 28; 4.Alonso 26; 5.Button, Vettel 23; 7.Magnussen 20; 8.Bottas 18; 9.Perez 16; 10.Ricciardo, Massa 12; 12.Raikkonen 7; 13.Vergne 4; 14.Kvyat 3.

Constructors' championship
1.Mercedes 111; 2.Force India-Mercedes 44; 3.McLaren-Mercedes 43; 4.Red Bull-Renault 35; 5.Ferrari 33; 6.Toro Rosso-Renault 7.

*Unofficial scoring

Pit stop pre-action (Photo: WRi2)

From GMM

Big politics are at play in formula one.

Amid all the noise about quiet engines and the urgent need to change rules, many suspect Bernie Ecclestone is hard at work on his latest coup.

According to the respected correspondent for Auto Motor und Sport, Michael Schmidt, the F1 chief executive is furious the FIA won the battle to get turbo V6s on the grid.

Ecclestone is reportedly now determined to win the war.

FIA president Jean Todt declared mere hours ago that a EUR 150 million per team budget cap for 2015 was set to be imminently agreed.

Jean Todt (Photo: WRi2)

"From all of my discussions," said the Frenchman, "I conclude that the majority of the teams, the FIA and the rights owners do want this cost limitation."

Suddenly, everything has changed.

Schmidt reports that the top teams in the new F1 strategy group - Ferrari, Red Bull and Mercedes - counter-punched with a proposal of EUR 260 million.

In effect, that would not be a budget 'cap' at all.

But Todt is now even saying: "All six teams in the strategy group are suddenly against a budget cap."

Photo: WRi2

The other strategy group teams are McLaren, Williams and Lotus.

It appears Ecclestone may be moving to corner Todt and the FIA.

Initially a wild rumour, it now appears more and more plausible that Ecclestone is attempting a takeover coup that could leave F1's governing body completely in the cold.

Schmidt reports that Ecclestone is so serious he is even prepared to drop the name 'formula one', which is owned by the FIA, in favour of 'GP1'.

Devaluing the existing FIA-controlled F1, by incessantly complaining about quiet engines and a dull, complicated, fuel-saving spectacle, suddenly makes sense.

Schmidt reports that Todt was informed about the strategy group's newfound total opposition to a budget cap through a letter from none other than Ecclestone.

From press release

RK M-Sport World Rally Team's misfortune continued at the Vodafone Rally de Portugal yesterday as Robert Kubica and Maciej Szczepaniak were forced to retire their Ford Fiesta RS WRC.

The Poles had returned under Rally 2 regulations following Friday's disappointment and were determined to make the most of their time behind the wheel. Enjoying the gravel speed tests, the Formula One race winner was eager to make the most of his return - learning the stages and gaining further experience of the loose-surface terrain.

Unfortunately, the pairing fell foul of the tricky stages. Carrying too much speed into a corner over a crest, the duo went wide and slid off the road. With his Fiesta half on the stage, Kubica made every effort to stay in the rally, but unfortunately his efforts damaged the clutch and caused internal damage to the transmission. With the damage too severe, Robert and Maciej will not restart today.

Robert Kubica, Ford Fiesta RS WRC (Photo: McKlein)

With just over a month until the next event in Argentina, Kubica will now look to end his string of bad luck and will be keen to turn his season around with a solid performance in South America.

"It had been a short and tough day. From the very beginning we were driving at a very steady pace, but still it did not stop me from making another mistake," said Kubica.

"Going into a turn over a crest I was convinced it was much faster. I thought it was five but in the pacenotes it was three. We were going too fast even though a few kilometres before I had slowed down because we had some understeer into the right-hand corners. Still though, we were going too fast for that part of the stage.

"We almost made it back to the stage. Half of the car was on the road, but since I could not downshift, the revs went down too much and we lost the momentum. I went back down the embankment and tried to find another way back to the stage, but because of my attempts the clutch gave up and it was over.

"Right now I am going through a difficult period of my life, even though I've had worse times. I think I must somehow reset myself and try to approach rallies the way I did at the very beginning, twelve months ago. I really hope we will have a much better rally in Argentina."

From GMM

Michael Schumacher is making eye-contact and responding to voices, according to the very latest media reports.

Earlier, after a worrying three-month long coma, the F1 legend's manager Sabine Kehm revealed that Schumacher is now having "moments of consciousness and awakening".

The news cheered the F1 paddock in Bahrain, but now there are apparently even more signs of improvement in the former Ferrari and Mercedes driver's previously life-threatening brain injuries.

Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Schumacher is making encouraging eye movements, while Germany's Bild am Sonntag newspaper claims the great 45-year-old German is even responding to voices.

Family friend Jean Alesi, a former F1 driver, has visited Schumacher several times in hospital, and he is now much more optimistic about the future.

"First, Michael responded only to pain, when he was pinched for example," he is quoted by Speed Week. "But that can also be an unconscious reaction of the body.

"During my last visit I realised that something was beginning to change for the better. I felt with the family some relief, a great joy about how things were developing.

"It is fabulous," the Frenchman claimed, "even though the path back to life is still long."

Felipe Massa, a former Ferrari teammate of Schumacher's and another close friend, seemed to confirm that the seven time world champion is now responding to voices.

"I cannot really put into words how excited I am about it," the Brazilian admitted in Bahrain.

"I prayed every day for Michael and they were answered. Now I hope to continue to hear good news from Grenoble," Massa added.

From GMM

Jean-Eric Vergne has admitted he was hospitalized recently amid an extreme weight-loss regime for the 2014 season.

Bigger than teammate and Toro Rosso newcomer Daniil Kvyat, the slight Russian teen, Frenchman Vergne admitted he committed to losing several kilograms over the winter to prepare for F1's much heavier new cars.

"The weight difference between myself and my teammate was making me lose four tenths (per lap)," Vergne, who was given a rare third consecutive season with the Red Bull junior team this year, told French media.

"I did a diet this winter but you get to certain limits that the body can no longer take.

Jean-Eric Vergne, Toro Rosso STR9 (Photo: WRi2)

"Actually, I was in hospital between the grands prix in Australia and Malaysia because of a lack of water and a little bit of lack of everything. I was very weak," the 23-year-old revealed.

Vergne said that while the minimum car-plus weight limit was raised by the FIA for the new turbo V6 rules, the 692kg figure is still far too low.

"Frankly, this (situation) is stupid," he insisted.

"Formula one cars are very difficult to drive and we need all of our skills. Being forced to lose weight is not good."

Vergne said the matter has been discussed by the drivers several times already in 2014, "but we have not reached a solution.

"Some lighter drivers want to keep their edge," he said.

Model: 2006 to 2013 MINI Cooper Hatchback / 2007 to 2013 MINI Cooper Convertible

Vehicle Type: Hatchback / Convertible

The Verdict: MINI Cooper models from this generation will appeal more on fuel efficiency and fun-to-drive factor than low running costs and all-out reliability.

For maximum confidence, shop as new a model as your budget will allow, as improvements were made to address some issues as production went on. Using high-quality engine oil, and changing it more frequently than advised by the owner's manual, is another great way to protect from potential issues.

Used MINI Cooper Pricing: Pricing varies vastly here, given the numerous model designations, special editions and body styles — though $7,500 seems to be the starting price for an earlier, higher-mileage Cooper, with a newer John Cooper Works Convertible pushing past $40,000.

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

Used MINI Cooper History/Description: The second-generation MINI Cooper was available in a plethora of trim grades, body styles and variations, which launched initially in 2006 with others phased in over the following years. Before long, generation 2 of the new MINI Cooper could be specified as a hatchback, a wagon, a convertible, a mini-SUV, a van, a coupe, or a roadster.

Equipment included Bluetooth, navigation, push-button start, multimedia connectivity, mood-lighting, oversized sunroofs, xenon lights, heated leather seats, automatic climate control, and plenty more.

All units, by default, get a 1.6L four-cylinder engine and drive the front wheels via an automatic or manual transmission. Look for output in the low 120-horsepower range, this figure increasing towards and beyond 180 in turbocharged “S” or “JCW” models, respectively. The ‘ALL-4' designation is MINI-speak for All-Wheel-Drive which was available on a few model variants.

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

What Owners Like: Giggle inducing handling, very good fuel mileage, a largely comfortable ride, and sporty performance, even on non-turbo MINI's were all reported by owners. Good visibility, fantastic maneuverability and tremendous presence on the road were all praised, too.

What Owners Dislike: Limited storage facilities, limited cargo room, limited rear-seat legroom on most models and an assortment of other size-related issues are the most common complaints. Sportier models have collected some complaints about a rougher ride, and some owners wish for a more potent factory stereo system.

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

Used MINI Cooper Common Issues: There's talk on owner forums about timing chain issues with the ‘N14' engines—namely earlier turbocharged units in this generation, from about 2007 to 2011. Apparently, an updated timing chain tensioner and some other improvements solved this issue after 2011, though shoppers are advised to be aware of the issue and check with the seller, and a MINI technician, as to whether or not the unit in question should be investigated further for signs of timing chain trouble.

Oil consumption may contribute to the timing chain tensioner issue on earlier turbocharged Cooper engines, too. Some owners report heavy oil consumption, others report none, and most debate how much oil consumption is considered ‘normal'. Apparently, a revised valve cover with redesigned oil-separation passages helped fix some of the mysterious oil consumption problem.

Going with a turbo model? Be sure it's been treated to frequent, on-time, high-quality oil changes-- as these are vital to long-term turbo health. Signs of a bad turbo include smoke (particularly at idle when the engine is warm), sporadic performance under hard acceleration, and oil leaks out of the turbo housing, possibly into the ‘charge pipes'. Note that the Mini's turbocharger can be easily accessed for a mechanical inspection since it's bolted to the front of the engine.

Many owners have reported premature clutch failure, so be sure to drive the manual-equipped MINI you're considering while ‘feeling' for signs of slippage or ‘biting back' from the gearbox while changing gears. Bad water pumps, which were addressed by a recall in some countries, may also be an issue—so have a mechanic take a look on a pre-purchase inspection.

Photo: Sébastien D'Amour

Tesla Motors, which had its first profitable quarter last year aided by sales of California environmental credits, is to receive fewer for each Model S sold as the state modifies its zero-emission vehicle program.

The biggest beneficiary of the new federal mandate for rearview cameras is likely to be Magna International, which claims 40 percent of the North American market for the equipment.

General Motors dealers applauded CEO Mary Barra's testimony on Capitol Hill this past week as she took the national stage in the ignition-switch recall storm.

Russia's falling ruble, shrinking car demand and threat of additional economic sanctions are hitting automakers such as Ford and General Motors' Opel division just as their European operations are recovering from a six-year slump.

From press release

Nico Rosberg claimed his first pole position of the 2014 F1 season by beating his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton, Saturday, during qualifying ahead of the first ever night Formula One race in Bahrain.

Nico Rosberg, Mercedes W05 (Photo: WRi2)

Mercedes has been dominant all weekend so far, with both Rosberg and Hamilton able to advance to Q2 without even using the faster soft tire. In the end, the German was more than two tenths faster than his teammate, with a time of 1min33.185s around the Sakhir Circuit.

A total of seven Mercedes-powered cars qualified in the top 10.

Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull RB10 (Photo: WRi2)

"It's fantastic to be on pole again here in Bahrain," said the Rosberg, who was also set the pole last year.

"I really enjoy the track and I won my GP2 Series title here so it has some pretty special memories for me. We've had a good weekend so far (so) I'm looking forward to the race."

Fernando Alonso, Ferrari F14-T (Photo: WRi2)

"Second place is pretty good for us today," added Hamilton. "I made a mistake on my last lap which was a shame but it's great for the team to have both cars on the front row.

"Congratulations to Nico today, he's done a great job so far this weekend and nailed a really quick lap in qualifying. I'm happy that it's my team-mate there on pole and not someone else!"

Romain Grosjean, Lotus E22 (Photo: WRi2)

"Nico drove a superb lap on his first run in Q3 and Lewis clearly sensed he had to push to the limit to match his teammate," analyzed Mercedes' Paddy Lowe. "Unfortunately this lead to a mistake at the first corner but his initial lap was still good enough to maintain second."

As part of the track's 10th anniversary, the 22-car field will take the start of tomorrow's race after sundown, for the first ever night F1 race in Bahrain.

Bahrain by night (Photo: WRi2)

Qualifying results* - Bahrain Grand Prix (round 3 of 19)
1.Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W05) - 1'33"185 - Q3
2.Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W05) - 1'33”464 - Q3
3.Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 1'34"247 - Q3
4.Sergio Perez (Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1'34”346 - Q3
5.Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari F14-T) - 1'34"368 - Q3
6.Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/29-Mercedes) - 1'34"387 - Q3
7.Felipe Massa (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 1'34"511 - Q3
8.Kevin Magnussen (McLaren MP4/29-Mercedes) - 1'34"712 - Q3
9.Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F14-T) - 1'34"992 - Q3
10.Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 1'34"985 - Q2
11.Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1'35"116 - Q2
12.Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1'35"145 - Q2
13.Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 1'34"051 - Q3 **
14.Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1'35"286 - Q2
15.Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1'35"891 - Q2
16.Romain Grosjean (Lotus E22-Renault) - 1'35”908 - Q2
17.Pastor Maldonado (Lotus E22-Renault) - 1'36”663 - Q1
18.Adrian Sutil (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1'36"840 - Q1
19.Kamui Kobayashi (Caterham CT05-Renault) - 1'37”085 - Q1
20.Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR03-Ferrari) - 1'37"310 - Q1
21,Marcus Ericsson (Caterham CT05-Renault) - 1'37”875 - Q1
22.Max Chilton (Marussia MR03-Ferrari) - 1'37"913 - Q1
*Unofficial timing
**10-place grid penalty from Malaysia

Max Chilton, Marussia MR03 (Photo: WRi2)

From GMM

Mark Webber has tipped Red Bull to win next month's Monaco grand prix.

The Australian, who retired from formula one in 2013 after a seven-year stint with the reigning world champions, acknowledged that for now, dominant Mercedes will continue to lead the way at grands prix.

But Webber warned: "They (Red Bull) will get back to Mercedes' level.

"They need some time, but it's normal," he told the Austrian newspaper Salzburger Nachrichten. "You can't win for 15 years in a row.

"Everyone's saying they're not strong because they're finishing second or third, and Red Bull did do a lot of winning (in the past) but I'm sure they will win again this year.

Mark Webber (Photo: Facebook)

"Whether they win enough to win the championship, we will have to see how strong Mercedes is to get too many points in the first part of the season," added Webber.

After wins in Melbourne and Malaysia, Mercedes' advantage appears even greater in Bahrain for round three, but Webber suggested that is because of the German marque's power advantage on long straights.

"Mercedes will continue to dominate the next races," he is quoted by Speed Week, "but Red Bull will win in Monaco."