Bahrain GP: Raikkonen top as Hamilton struggles
Last updated on .From the section Formula 1
Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen left struggling Mercedes trailing in final practice at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
The Finn was 0.5 seconds ahead of the Red Bulls of Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo, while Lewis Hamilton was only fourth in his difficult Mercedes.
Hamilton headed Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel by 0.028secs but the German had difficulties with loose bodywork early on and engine problems later.
Hamilton has a difficult race with a five-place grid penalty confirmed.
If he qualifies fastest later on Saturday, Hamilton will start sixth at best but in final practice the Mercedes looks to be the third fastest car around the Sakhir track.
Hamilton was clearly struggling with balance, locking wheels, suffering from under-steer in some corners and from oversteer in others.
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His team-mate Valtteri Bottas was in similar trouble and ended up sixth quickest, 0.09secs slower than Hamilton.
Raikkonen has appeared so far this weekend to have an edge on Vettel would likely have joined Raikkonen at the top of the timings had his session not been hit by a series of problems.
A piece of bodywork beside the cockpit became loose as Vettel started his first run, he went quickest after it was repaired but then aborted his final run complaining of engine drivability issues.
Vettel's problems allowed the Red Bulls to leap into second and third places, Verstappen 0.525secs behind Raikkonen and just 0.059secs quicker than Ricciardo.
Behind the big three, Renault's Nico Hulkenberg and Carlos Sainz were next, the German 0.751secs off the pace and 0.056secs ahead of the Spaniard.
And Toro Rosso continued to impress, Pierre Gasly ninth fastest and 0.007secs ahead of McLaren's Fernando Alonso, whose team dropped the Honda engine now used by Toro Rosso last year claiming that it was holding them back.
Gasly's team-mate Brendon Hartley was 11th ahead of the Haas of Romain Grosjean.
Williams are having a torrid weekend, Sergey Sirotkin and Lance Stroll at the back, the Russian nearly half a second off the next slowest car but 0.4secs up on his team-mate.
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Has it perhaps got something to do with the fact that his one and only has not got pole position I wonder.
Talk why Lewis is not fastest, rather than why someone else is.
Well done Bottas, out qualified your team mate¡!!!!!!!!!
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Me too, but I'd like to think Kimi would ignore such a team order if it happened. I reckon a Kimi win would be very popular amongst F1 fans and would certainly shake things up this early in the season.
no hys for the outcome of qualifying..and quite clearly bensons love and hero worship of lewis hamilton is here for all to see..quite pathetic!
@75 you are quite right about the benson lack of decent coverage..if it aint hammertime...its benson aint bothered time..
72. SnoddersB
I expect the Merc number 2 Bottas will do the same tomorrow
If Lewis drives for Ferrari i would support him but he doesn't so i wont.
Sweet xenophobic dreams Michael. Night night
I wont be booing anyone, unlike you i actually don't mind so much if someone beats Ferrari just as long as it's good racing, i cant imagine you ever saying the same about Lewis because your not very open minded.
I love all motorsport not just F1, you should try opening your mind sometime you might surprise yourself
Haha Silverstone shows true Brit support, yes you are right they showed so much support for DC & JB, much much more than they ever show for hamilton. I witnessed it several times, I witnessed both DC & JB having so much more time for their fans than I have ever witnessed hamilton having.
He has on more than one occasion failed to turn up to an event leaving MB staff having to apologise.
No but i will be going to Italy and Spa which seems a lot more appealing than sitting in a crowd filled with thousands of Michaels.