VETTEL LEADS AS HAM FALLS

LEWIS HAMILTON will start the Bahrain Grand Prix from only ninth as his rival Sebastian Vettel stormed to pole position.

Defending champion Hamilton (below) has been off the pace all weekend and, while he posted the fourth quickest lap in a thrill-a-minute qualifying session, he will be shunted down the order following his penalty for a gearbox change.

Kimi Raikkonen joins Vettel at the sharp end as Ferrari secured a front-row lockout. Hamilton’s Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas was third.

Vettel was trailing Raikkonen following the opening runs in the desert, but the championship leader, who beat Hamilton at the opening race in Australia, delivered the goods when it mattered most.

Vettel finished 0.134seconds clear of Raikkonen, with Bottas