F1 Bahrain: Mercedes extends domination in Bahrain (+photos)

Mercedes AMG drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg continue to dominate Formula 1 during Friday’s two free practice sessions in Bahrain.

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes (Photo: WRI2)

Hamilton set the fastest time in the opening session, and repeated this performance in the evening, setting some very quick lap times during his long run.

The former Formula 1 World Champion ended up on top by 0.365s from his teammate.

Fernando Alonso, Mercedes’ closest opposition in the Ferrari, was just over a second behind Hamilton. And he had no shortage of company as 0.6 second covered the 11 runners down to 13th place.

Fernando Alonso, Ferrari (Photo: WRI2)

It was a difficult day for Red Bull, from which Daniel Ricciardo salvaged fourth place on 1m35.433s, a time which Williams’ Felipe Massa narrowly failed to beat.

Sebastian Vettel lost a little time with a downshift problem early on, then struggled on the medium tire and eventually had to settle for seventh place.

Grand Prix of Bahrain, free practice session 1*:
1 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W05) – 1’37”502 – 14 laps
2 – Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W05) - 1m37.733 - 13
3 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F14 T) - 1m37.953 – 17
4 - Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1m38.122 - 10
5 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/29-Mercedes) - 1m38.636 - 16
6 – Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari F14 T) - 1m38.783 - 12
7 – Kevin Magnussen (McLaren MP4/29-Mercedes) - 1m38.949 - 15
8 – Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1m39.056 – 24
9 – Sergio Perez (Force India VJM07-Mercedes) – 1’39”102 - 21
10 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 1m39.389 - 16
11 – Felipe Massa (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 1m39.533 - 11
12 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1m39.862 - 26
13 – Felipe Nasr (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 1m40.078 - 14
14 – Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 1m40.406 - 19
15 - Adrian Sutil (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1m40.652 - 20
16 – Pastor Maldonado (Lotus E22-Renault) – 1’40”793 – 31
17 – Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR03-Ferrari) - 1m40.889 - 20
18 – Giedo Van der Garde (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1m40.913 - 20
19 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E22-Renault) – 1’41”036 - 24
20 - Max Chilton (Marussia MR03-Ferrari) - 1m41.794 - 20
21 – Robin Frijns (Caterham CT05-Renault) – 1’42”417 - 35
22 – Marcus Ericsson (Caterham CT05-Renault) – 1’42”711 – 21

Felipe Massa, Williams (Photo: WRI2)

Grand Prix of Bahrain, free practice session 2*:
1 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W05) – 1’34”325 – 28 laps
2 – Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W05) - 1m34.690 - 31
3 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F14 T) - 1m35.360 – 28
4 – Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 1m35.433 - 28
5 – Felipe Massa (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 1m35.442 - 13
6 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/29-Mercedes) - 1m35.528 - 21
7 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB10-Renault) - 1m35.606 - 30
8 – Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1m35.640 – 31
9 – Kevin Magnussen (McLaren MP4/29-Mercedes) - 1m35.662 - 22
10 – Sergio Perez (Force India VJM07-Mercedes) – 1m35”802 - 40
11 – Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 1m35.920 - 9
12 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1m35.972 - 33
13 - Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1m35.998 - 18
14 – Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari F14 T) - 1m36.366 - 33
15 - Adrian Sutil (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1m36.962 - 13
16 – Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1m36.975 - 35
17 – Pastor Maldonado (Lotus E22-Renault) – 1’37”259 – 25
18 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E22-Renault) – 1’37”599 - 23
19 – Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR03-Ferrari) - 1m37.800 - 15
20 - Max Chilton (Marussia MR03-Ferrari) - 1m38.247 - 10
21 – Kamui Kobayashi (Caterham CT05-Renault) – 1’38”257 - 33
22 – Marcus Ericsson (Caterham CT05-Renault) – 1’39”137 – 30
*Unofficial timing