Finland's Valtteri Bottas took his first Formula One pole position at the Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday to end Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton's bid for a seventh in a row.
Triple world champion Hamilton qualified alongside, a mere 0.023 slower than Bottas's lap of one minute 28.769 seconds, to secure the first front row lockout of the season for the reigning champions.
Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel, joint leader of the world championship standings with Hamilton after two races, will start in third place with Red Bull's Australian Daniel Ricciardo fourth.
Mercedes, who won the race last year with now-retired champion Nico Rosberg, have taken five successive poles at the desert Sakhir circuit.
PRACTICE
Max Verstappen topped the times for Red Bull in Saturday's hot, windswept and closely-contested final free practice ahead of Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix.
In a session that was halted briefly after Frenchman Romain Grosjean crashed in his Haas-Ferrari car, the 19-year-old Dutchman clocked a best lap in one minute and 32.194 to finish one-tenth of a second clear of nearest rival Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes.
Sebastian Vettel, who shares the lead in this year's embryonic drivers' championship with Hamilton, was third fastest for Ferrari ahead of Valtteri Bottas in the second Mercedes.
Kimi Raikkonen was fifth in the second Ferrari ahead of Felipe Massa of Williams, Australian Daniel Riccirdo in the second Red Bull and German Nico Hulkenberg of Renault.
Also, it was a dream come true moment for many racing fans earlier today as they got a chance to meet their favourite F1 drivers during an autograph session at the 2017 Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix.
The session was held in BIC’s Formula 1 Village vending area.
Hope @SteveAoki left ya'll with good vibes tonight!! #F1 #BahrainGP pic.twitter.com/1Q3Wt1mhYy
— Bahrain Int. Circuit (@BAH_Int_Circuit) April 15, 2017
How LIT was tonight? 😍🔥 #SteveAoki #Concert #F1 #BahrainGP @steveaoki pic.twitter.com/Jh3R8yUqSu
— Bahrain Int. Circuit (@BAH_Int_Circuit) April 15, 2017
A look at the amazing concert by @enriqueiglesias tonight!#F1 #BahrainGP #Concerts pic.twitter.com/SkAOtJHTS3
— Bahrain Int. Circuit (@BAH_Int_Circuit) April 15, 2017
(Entertainment galore at BIC - Day two)
Click here to see more pictures of fans meeting F1 drivers.
SCHEDULE:
Autograph session with drivers 12:30pm
Third practice session 2pm
Qualifying 6pm
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