The latest auto news, reviews, prices, product and vehicle releases. Apr
20th
Stay connected Subscribe to our RSS feed
Nico Rosberg, the winner of last week's Grand Prix of China set the fastest time Friday during the second free practice session.
Rosberg, driving a Mercedes AMG W03 set a fast time in 1m32.816, four tenths of a second clear of his closest rival, Mark Webber in the Red Bull RB8.
However, Rosberg indicated that the correct management of tire wear during the race will be the key to success.
“It's tricky to keep the rear tires alive. It will have little to do with fast driving - it's more like Le Mans or something,” Rosberg told the medias.
Webber teammate, Sebastian Vettel, classified third ahead of McLaren's Lewis Hamitlon, Michael Schumacher in the second Mercedes AMG, Jenson Button in the second McLaren and Kamui Kobayashi in the first Sauber.
The best placed Ferrari is that of Fernando Alonso in eight place. His teammate Felipe Massa appears in 12th position.
The Sahara Force India team decided not to run in Friday afternoon's session in the wake of the incident on Wednesday when members of its crew were caught up with protestors.
Team Principal Bob Fernley told reporters earlier Friday that a desire to travel back from the circuit before darkness was the key factor, although the official press release mentioned the reason was “for logistical reasons”.
Grand Prix of Bahrain, Free practice 1*:
1 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1'33"572 - 11 laps
2 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1'33"877 - 21
3 - Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 1'34"150 - 26
4 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1'34"249 - 23
5 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1'34"277 - 14
6 - Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 1'34"344 - 26
7 - Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1'34"483 - 17
8 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1'34"552 - 22
9 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1'34"609 - 17
10 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1'34"847 - 20
11 - Sergio Perez (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1'35"024 - 22
12 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1'35"268 - 24
13 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F2012) - 1'35"436 - 21
14 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1'35"497 - 24
15 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F2012) - 1'35"719 - 19
16 - Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1'35"929 - 24
17 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1'36"195 - 20
18 - Heikki Kovalainen (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1'36"330 - 11
19 - Vitaly Petrov (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1'36"484 - 18
20 - Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1'36"591 - 20
21 - Charles Pic (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1'37"467 - 17
22 - Timo Glok (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1'38"006 - 18
23 - Pedro De La Rosa (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1'38"877 - 19
24 - Narain Karthikeyan (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1'39"996 - 23
Grand Prix of Bahrain, Free practice 2*:
1 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1'32"816 - 35 laps
2 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1'33"262 - 26
3 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1'33"525 - 28
4 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1'33"747 - 26
5 - Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1'33"862 - 32
6 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1'34"246 - 28
7 - Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1'34"411 - 24
8 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F2012) - 1'34"449 - 31
9 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1'34"615 - 32
10 - Sergio Perez (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1'34"893 - 34
11 - Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1'34"885 - 29
12 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F2012) - 1'34"941 - 30
13 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1'35"183 - 33
14 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1'35"229 - 26
15 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1'35"459 - 38
16 - Vitaly Petrov (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1'35"913 - 33
17 - Heikki Kovalainen (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1'35"968 - 35
18 - Bruno Senna (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1'36"169 - 30
19 - Timo Glok (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1'35"587 - 33
20 - Charles Pic (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1'37"803 - 33
21 - Pedro De La Rosa (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1'37"812 - 28
22 - Narain Karthikeyan (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1'39"649 - 27
23 - Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - No times
24 - Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - No times
*Unofficial timing
 |
| Nico Rosberg, Mercedes AMG (Photo: WRI2) |
Rosberg, driving a Mercedes AMG W03 set a fast time in 1m32.816, four tenths of a second clear of his closest rival, Mark Webber in the Red Bull RB8.
However, Rosberg indicated that the correct management of tire wear during the race will be the key to success.
 |
| Bernie Ecclestone talking to the medias. (Photo: WRI2) |
“It's tricky to keep the rear tires alive. It will have little to do with fast driving - it's more like Le Mans or something,” Rosberg told the medias.
Webber teammate, Sebastian Vettel, classified third ahead of McLaren's Lewis Hamitlon, Michael Schumacher in the second Mercedes AMG, Jenson Button in the second McLaren and Kamui Kobayashi in the first Sauber.
 |
| Paul Di Resta, Force India (Photo: WRI2) |
The best placed Ferrari is that of Fernando Alonso in eight place. His teammate Felipe Massa appears in 12th position.
The Sahara Force India team decided not to run in Friday afternoon's session in the wake of the incident on Wednesday when members of its crew were caught up with protestors.
Team Principal Bob Fernley told reporters earlier Friday that a desire to travel back from the circuit before darkness was the key factor, although the official press release mentioned the reason was “for logistical reasons”.
 |
| Lewis Hamilton, McLaren (Photo: WRI2) |
Grand Prix of Bahrain, Free practice 1*:
1 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1'33"572 - 11 laps
2 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1'33"877 - 21
3 - Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 1'34"150 - 26
4 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1'34"249 - 23
5 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1'34"277 - 14
6 - Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 1'34"344 - 26
7 - Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1'34"483 - 17
8 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1'34"552 - 22
9 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1'34"609 - 17
10 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1'34"847 - 20
11 - Sergio Perez (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1'35"024 - 22
12 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1'35"268 - 24
13 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F2012) - 1'35"436 - 21
14 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1'35"497 - 24
15 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F2012) - 1'35"719 - 19
16 - Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1'35"929 - 24
17 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1'36"195 - 20
18 - Heikki Kovalainen (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1'36"330 - 11
19 - Vitaly Petrov (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1'36"484 - 18
20 - Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1'36"591 - 20
21 - Charles Pic (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1'37"467 - 17
22 - Timo Glok (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1'38"006 - 18
23 - Pedro De La Rosa (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1'38"877 - 19
24 - Narain Karthikeyan (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1'39"996 - 23
Grand Prix of Bahrain, Free practice 2*:
1 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1'32"816 - 35 laps
2 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1'33"262 - 26
3 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1'33"525 - 28
4 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1'33"747 - 26
5 - Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1'33"862 - 32
6 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1'34"246 - 28
7 - Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1'34"411 - 24
8 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F2012) - 1'34"449 - 31
9 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1'34"615 - 32
10 - Sergio Perez (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1'34"893 - 34
11 - Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1'34"885 - 29
12 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F2012) - 1'34"941 - 30
13 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1'35"183 - 33
14 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1'35"229 - 26
15 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1'35"459 - 38
16 - Vitaly Petrov (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1'35"913 - 33
17 - Heikki Kovalainen (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1'35"968 - 35
18 - Bruno Senna (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1'36"169 - 30
19 - Timo Glok (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1'35"587 - 33
20 - Charles Pic (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1'37"803 - 33
21 - Pedro De La Rosa (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1'37"812 - 28
22 - Narain Karthikeyan (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1'39"649 - 27
23 - Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - No times
24 - Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - No times
*Unofficial timing
 |
| Red Bull team used flow-viz paint to tweak the aerodynamics of the RB8. (Photo: WRI2) |