Nico Rosberg had the pole on the first Q3 runs, with Lewis Hamilton fourth after a mistake on a turn. Nico Rosberg says he was "sure" he had the pole position only to be beat by Hamilton on an additional run-half run, last turn-last two turns (?) set by Ecclestone's new qualifying rules.
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F1 Bahrain GP - Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff: We can’t follow qualifying, even with our data!
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So, quali now means you get one fast lap per session. if it looks like you might advance, you get a second lap. Plus, if you are in the top 4, you get a second crack at pole, and everyone gets to come in for tea before the checkered flag drops. Quite civilized, don't you say, old chaps?
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On the way to the circuit:
Bahrain Formula 1 Grand Prix
Sunday, 11:00 a.m. NBCSN
Starting Grid
1.
Lewis Hamilton GBR
Mercedes-Mercedes 1m 29.493s
2. [B]
Nico Rosberg GER
Mercedes-Mercedes 1m 29.570s
3.
Sebastian Vettel GER
Ferrari-Ferrari 1m 30.012s
4.
Kimi Raikkonen FIN
Ferrari-Ferrari 1m 30.244s
5.
Daniel Ricciardo AUS
Red Bull-TAG Heuer 1m 30.854s
6.
Valtteri Bottas FIN
Williams-Mercedes 1m 31.153s
7.
Felipe Massa BRZ
Williams-Mercedes 1m 31.155s
8.
Nico Hulkenberg GER
Force India-Mercedes 1m 31.620s
9.
Romain Grosjean FRA
Haas-Ferrari 1m 31.756s
10.
Max Verstappen NED
Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m 31.772s
11.
Carlos Sainz Jr ESP
Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m 31.816s
12.
Stoffel Vandoorne BEL
McLaren-Honda 1m 31,934s **
13.
Esteban Gutierrez MEX
Haas-Ferrari 1m 31.945s
14.
Jenson Button GBR
McLaren-Honda 1m 31.998s
15.
Daniil Kvyat RUS
Red Bull-TAG Heuer 1m 32.241s
16.
Pascal Wehrlein GER
MRT-Mercedes 1m 32.806s
17.
Marcus Ericsson SWE
Sauber-Ferrari 1m 32.840s
18.
Sergio Perez MEX
Force India-Mercedes 1m 32.911s
19.
Kevin Magnussen DEN
Renault-Renault 1m 33.181s*
20.
Jolyon Palmer GBR
Renault-Renault 1m 33.438s
21.
Rio Haryanto INA
MRT-Mercedes 1m 34.190s
22.
Felipe Nasr BRZ
Sauber-Ferrari 1m 34.388s
* denotes driver due to take start from pit-lane
** Vandoorne will substitute for the injured Fernando Alonso
Fernando Alonso holds the record for the most wins in Bahrain. Of the current drivers, Lewis Hamilton, Felipe Massa and Sebastian Vettel have two wins each.
Beautiful circuit. Race starts at twilight. Turn 11 offers one of the best overtaking opportunities while Turn 12 can be one of the most exciting to watch drivers navigate around the track.
Be cautious when leaving the circuit:
