Ferrari opens the season on pole position.

[huub vink]

It seems Ferrari has come out of the winter very well as they open the season with pole position and second place on the grid for Massa in the second car! Honda and Renault look like the other competative teams.

My top 3 for the first race:
1 Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)
2 Jenson Button (Honda)
3 Fernando Alonso (Renault)

[Ferry_vO]

Thanks Huub; you beat me !

Complete qualifying results for the Bahrein Grand Prix :

1. Michael Schumacher Germany Ferrari-Ferrari 01:31.431
2. Felipe Massa Brazil Ferrari-Ferrari 01:31.478
3. Jenson Button Britain Honda-Honda 01:31.549
4. Fernando Alonso Spain Renault-Renault 01:31.702
5. Juan Pablo Montoya Colombia McLaren-Mercedes 01:32.164
6. Rubens Barrichello Brazil Honda-Honda 01:32.579
7. Mark Webber Australia Williams-Cosworth 01:33.006
8. Christian Klien Austria Red Bull-Ferrari 01:33.112
9. Giancarlo Fisichella Italy Renault-Renault 01:33.495
10. Nick Heidfeld Germany BMW Sauber 01:33.926

11. Jacques Villeneuve Canada BMW Sauber 01:32.456
12. Nico Rosberg Germany Williams-Cosworth 01:32.620
13. David Coulthard Britain Red Bull-Ferrari 01:32.650
14. Jarno Trulli Italy Toyota-Toyota 01:33.066
15. Vitantonio Liuzzi Italy Toro Rosso-Cosworth 01:33.416*
16. Scott Speed American Toro Rosso-Cosworth 01:34.606*

17. Ralf Schumacher Germany Toyota-Toyota 01:34.702
18. Christijan Albers Holland Midland-Toyota 01:35.724
19. Tiago Monteiro Portugal Midland-Toyota 01:35.900
20. Takuma Sato Japan Super Aguri-Honda 01:37.411
21. Yuji Ide Japan Super Aguri-Honda 01:40.270
22. Kimi Raikkonen Finland McLaren-Mercedes no time

all times unofficial
[* denotes restricted V10 engine]

Top ten times determined in third and final 20-minute session; remaining drivers eliminated six at a time in two previous 15-minute sessions

[Panther_99FS]

I see all the "whiners" about Toro Rosso's supposed V-10 advantage have 'mysteriously' shut up......

[Ferry_vO]

The unofficial results of the first race :

1. Fernando Alonso Spain Renault-Renault 57 laps 01:29:46.205
2. Michael Schumacher Germany Ferrari-Ferrari +1.2
3. Kimi Raikkonen Finland McLaren-Mercedes +19.3
4. Jenson Button Britain Honda-Honda +19.9
5. Juan Pablo Montoya Colombia McLaren-Mercedes +37.0
6. Mark Webber Australia Williams-Cosworth +41.9
7. Nico Rosberg Germany Williams-Cosworth CA2006 V8 +63.0
8. Christian Klien Austria Red Bull-Ferrari +66.7

9. Felipe Massa Brazil Ferrari-Ferrari +69.9
10. David Coulthard Britain Red Bull-Ferrari +75.5
11. Vitantonio Liuzzi Italy Toro Rosso-Cosworth +85.9*
12. Nick Heidfeld Germany BMW Sauber +1 lap
13. Scott Speed American Toro Rosso-Cosworth +1 lap*
14. Ralf Schumacher Germany Toyota-Toyota +1 lap
15. Rubens Barrichello Brazil Honda-Honda +1 lap
16. Jarno Trulli Italy Toyota-Toyota +1 lap
17. Tiago Monteiro Portugal Midland-Toyota +2 laps
18. Takuma Sato Japan Super Aguri-Honda +4 laps

Rtd Yuji Ide Japan Super Aguri-Honda 35 laps completed
Rtd Jacques Villeneuve Canada BMW Sauber 29 laps completed
Rtd Giancarlo Fisichella Italy Renault-Renault 21 laps completed
Rtd Christijan Albers Holland Midland-Toyota 0 laps completed

[Ferry_vO]

Great victory for Fernando, who took the lead after his second pitstop. M. Schumacher was never far away though.
Another excellent drive from Raikkonen, finishing third after having started from last position ! :ernae:

Both Williams' cars in the points, with Rosberg taking fastest lap on his debut. :applause:

Big disappointment for Toyota, with Ralf in P14 and Trulli down in P16... They were the first to show their new car, but maybe they should have left it on the drawing board a bit longer... :isadizzy:

On to Malaysia for the next race next week ! Hope it will be as exciting as this one !!