Vettel keeps Ferrari flag flying with pole run

Hamilton produces fourth fastest time but suffers blow with five-place grid penalty

Sebastian Vettel produced a flying last lap in qualifying yesterday to take pole for today’s Bahrain Grand Prix.

The German, winner of the season-opener in Melbourne, will be joined on the front row by his Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen.

Lewis Hamilton produced the fourth fastest time at the floodlit circuit in Sakhir but the Mercedes world champion will start from ninth on the grid after picking up a five-place penalty for gearbox change.

The reigning champion of Mercedes had wound up fourth fastest earlier in Friday’s second free practice session at the Bahrain International Circuit. “@ Lewis-Hamilton will take a fiveplace grid penalty for the #BahrainGP after having to change his gearbox,” tweeted Mercedes.

Raikkonen was fastest as he and Ferrari teammate Sebastian Vettel dominated the session ahead of the two Mercedes, headed by Valtteri Bottas.

Hamilton’s setback in his bid to overhaul Vettel’s early-season lead in the title race — following his victory in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix — was confirmed by the International Motoring Federation (FIA), the sport’s ruling body.

Bottas also had a new gearbox fitted on Friday evening, but escaped a grid penalty because he had already been penalised in Australia.

Four-time world champion Hamilton, who created a minor controversy when he showed his approval on social media earlier in the day of the retention of grid girls at the Monaco Grand Prix, said before his penalty had been announced that it had been “a normal Friday”.

No edge

“It’s very close and we have some work to do. The tyres feel the best they have here in years, very stable with less degradation.”

Mercedes technical director James Allison said after Friday practice that the team were not as competitive in relation to Ferrari as they had been in Melbourne. “It wasn’t our best day,” he said. “We’ve got more to do overnight and in the practice tomorrow (Saturday) to five us a car that can fight in qualifying and on Sunday.

“The base for us is ok, but we don’t have the edge we had in Melbourne.”

AFP Ferrari’s driver Sebastian Vettel steers his car during the practice session yesterday at the Sakhir circuit. The German will be joined by his teammate Kimi Raikkonen in the front row.