F1 Bahrain Grand Prix LIVE: Qualifying build-up, Hamilton dominates practice – latest updates, results
THE Formula One season is back after a fortnight break – and ready for an adrenaline-filled weekend in the desert.
Bahrain plays host as title winner Lewis Hamilton looks to claim a fourth career victory at the Sakhir Circuit, where he won last year.
- Practice 3 time: 11am – TODAY
- Qualifying time: 2pm – TODAY
- Bahrain Grand Prix: 2.10pm – Sunday Nov 29
Follow all the action with our live blog below…
- Jim Sheridan
RACE FOR POLE
Welcome to qualifying day, people. Rise and shine.
We've a packed schedule of racing ahead from Bahrain, where FP3 will get underway at 11pm your time – before qualifying at 2pm.
Strap in for another thrilling one.
- Ben Hunt
FP2 IS DONE
Hamilton tops the session just as he did in FP1.
Verstappen in P2 and Bottas in P3.
Other story was Alex Albon's huge crash and the session being stopped by a stray dog.
Good day from Perez, who again shows good pace but concerns for the two Ferraris and McLaren are also off the pace.
- Ben Hunt
AND THIS IS THE RESULT
Hamilton in P1
- Ben Hunt
15 MINUTES TO GO
Hamilton is now starting his quick runs. Let's see what he's got.
- Ben Hunt
Q2 IS GO AGAIN…
The dog has gone and the session has restarted again.
- Ben Hunt
VETTEL IS SINGING
“Who let the dogs out?”
That is two races in a row where a dog has stopped play.
- Ben Hunt
FP2 IS GO AGAIN…OR IS IT?
The wreckage has been cleared up and the light goes green.
There is now a dog on the track, so the session has been stopped.
- Ben Hunt
ALBON IS OK
But he will be checked by the medics given the severity of the impact.
He is a tough cookie but his smash is going to dent his confidence. Not to mention Red Bull's coffers. That damage is going to cost a fair amount to rectify.
- Ben Hunt
WOAH BIG SMASH FOR ALBON – RED FLAG
His Red Bull is smashed to bits.
He lost control at the final corner and the car flips back and slams him into the wall.
That was a poor mistake for the under fire driver. His confidence has been hammered and this is yet another blow.
Will he stay at Red Bull?
- Ben Hunt
VERSTAPPEN LEADS THE WAY
After some difficulties in Q1, Verstappen is going well here in P1.
Perez again looking strong and Ricciardo too, so almost a repeat of Q1.
The only difference is the two Mercs are bottom but they have yet to do their fast laps.
- Ben Hunt
A RARE MOMENT THIS SEASON
As Mercedes cars are placed in P19 and P20
Told you it was an experimental session.
- Ben Hunt
CLOSE SHAVE FOR VERSTAPPEN
The Dutchman is nearly taken out by one of the Racing points. He is lucky to get away with that.
Meanwhile Gasly is also losing his rag with Bottas, who is hogging the racing line, despite being slow and bogged down with a heavy fuel load.
- Ben Hunt
FP2 IS GO
And again, the 2021 tyres will again make some appearances during this session. So plenty of development runs.
- <a href='http://www.thesun.co.uk/sport' rel='external nofollow ugc' class='url'>Alex Terrell</a>
HAMILTON IN ACTION
The world champion was back in his groove earlier on. Can he repeat it in the second practice session?
- Ben Hunt
END OF Q1
Hamilton means business. He is quickest in F1 following up his success in Turkey in excellent fashion.
Bottas again in P2 and Perez in third.
Good stuff from Sainz, Red Bull's Verstappen and Albon, plus the Renault duo who are in the top 10.
- Ben Hunt
SOLID START FOR PEREZ
Incredible to think that the Mexican is without a seat in F1 next season. Was on the podium last time out in Turkey. Now inside the top three.
Great driver, but has been shown the door by Racing Point. He must be on Red Bull's list and says he is only interesting in joining one team on the grid.
- Ben Hunt
NEAT ROUND UP
- Ben Hunt
RED BULL GIVES YOU SPINS
- Ben Hunt
BAH-RAIN?
More rain on the way. This could shake things up again. Hamilton and Bottas still P1 and P2.
Good stuff so far from Gasly and Perez who are in the top four.
- Ben Hunt
SPINS FOR LECLERC AND GROSJEAN
Mistakes from both drivers but they avoid contact with the barriers and are back on their way.
Both cars very down on pace. Leclerc in P15 and Grosjean in P17
- Ben Hunt
VERSTAPPEN NOW ON TRACK
The Red Bull man blew his chances of winning in Turkey after spinning off when he tried to overtake Sergio Perez.
He would love to finish the season strongly as he has already secured the title of best of the rest behind the Mercedes duo.
- Ben Hunt
BOTTAS WRECKS A SET OF TYRES
Remember, the Finn had a shocker in Turkey. He had six spins.
And now he is flatspotting his tyres here, struggling to hit the brakes in time to make the corner and causing the front wheels to lock up.
Not been a great season for him. Bad luck and unable to match his teammate.
- Ben Hunt
FP1 IS GO
Already busy on track, The early rain has gone away and it is your champion, Lewis Hamilton at the top of the time charts.
Bottas in P2, Sainz in P3.
Early days yet…
- Ben Hunt
FP1 IS ALMOST GO
And this week it will feature the new Pirelli tyres made for the 2021 season. Now, you might think that tyres are tyres.
But you'd be wrong. The different compounds (of which there are 5) react in different ways. Some are harder and last longer, some a softer and while they result in faster laps, as they are grippier, they don't last as long.
Tyres are a big part of F1. There are one of the four main variables (driver, car, track and tyres) that can influence the race.
They are the only part of the car that comes in contact with the surface, and, at the moment, the teams have limited information about the 2021 tyres.
So, this FP1 session will feature lots of data gathering for the teams, who will study all the information they receive from a selection of new 2021-spec tyres.
- Ben Hunt
BOTH TITLES ARE DONE…BUT THERE IS STILL LOTS TO PLAY FOR
Ok, so it is a bit difficult to get excited about the runner's up runner up…but in the constructors' championship it means millions in prize money.
Racing Point, McLaren and Renault are all vying for that third place behind Red Bull, who occupy second place behind champions Mercedes.
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