Alonso and Massa have new engines for Grand Prix
Both Ferrari’s of Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa will have new engines ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Felipe Massa, who qualified 2nd, has had his engine he used up to qualifying yesterday replaced as a completely precautionary step, as it is showing abnormal parameters. Similar abnormalities showed up in 3rd place qualifier Fernando Alonso’s Ferrari Type 56 engine, meaning it has also been replaced.
Neither driver will be penalised for these changes: you only get a penalty if you change engines twice in a weekend or exceed the 8 engines-per-season limit. Also in accordance with the rules, the replaced engines can be used in future practice sessions.
Video: Vitaly Petrov lap of Sakhir
A lap of the new Sakhir circuit courtesy of Vitaly Petrov in the Renault R30, recorded during Friday Practice 2. Ooh that Renault does look good!
Bahrain Grand Prix: Post Qualifying press conference
Drivers: 1. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull), 1m 54.101s; 2. Felipe Massa (Ferrari), 1m 54.242s; 3. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari), 1m 54.242s
Q: Sebastian, the testing did not tell us very much. You have picked up where you left off but how big a surprise is pole position to you?
Bahrain Grand Prix Friday Practice image gallery
See a selection of the best photos taken at Friday Practice in Bahrain today below.
Bahrain Grand Prix, Friday Practice 2 analysis
Nico Rosberg set the fastest lap on Friday Practice 2 in Bahrain, beating Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher who were 2nd and 3rd respectively.
As with in Friday practice 1, Karun Chandhok got no running in the HRT due to technical issues, and therefore does not feature in my graphs below. Neither does Toro Rosso’s Sebastien Buemi, who set no timed laps due to a problem with the STR5.