Bahrain F1 GP 2008 - Testing

It’s great to see some driving action again rather than the boring politics. Mr. Mosley’s tryst with hookers and lack of inputs from the pits made the racing junkie yearn for the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Felipe Massa led teammate Kimi Raikkonen in a Ferrari one-two in the first free practice session for the Bahrain Grand Prix. Williams' Nico Rosberg took third with a late qualifying-style run, ahead of McLaren's Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen.

Everything seemed to look similar in the 2nd practice run until things changed a bit for one Mr. Hamilton. The Briton lost control of his car on the exit of Turn 7 and spun across the track, hitting the opposite barriers side-on and causing heavy damage to the right-hand side of the car. Hamilton was unharmed in the incident.

As if to rub salt in the wound, Raikkonen then banged in a new fastest lap of the session moments later, at 1m 32.327s. Massa, who had been quickest since deposing Hamilton early on, looked like dropping to second but then made a low-fuel run for the best lap of the day in 1m 31.420s.

Heikki Kovalainen vaulted up to third with 1m 32.752s just before team mate Hamilton crashed, the latter’s once-quickest time of 1m 32.847s leaving him fourth.

Behind them, Robert Kubica kept BMW Sauber close to McLaren with 1m 32.915s, and Nico Rosberg maintained his form with sixth place and 1m 33.022s for Williams. With Kazuki Nakajima in eighth with 1m 33.098s, there was an air of quiet satisfaction in the English team.

David Coulthard gave Red Bull continued cheer with seventh place on 1m 33.048s, but Mark Webber was on a different programme and was 13th on 1m 33.782s.

There was a little more excitement when Adrian Sutil and Fernando Alonso came together after Alonso braked late into the corner. Fernando Alonso wasn’t pleased with his outings today saying they lacked grip and a lot speed that must be worked on before the race.

All in all it was a good day for Ferrari with Massa topping the times in both sessions showing everyone he can drive in the sand. Raikkonen had another and predictably good day with the second fastest time in both sessions.