Nico Rosberg’s stunning form has continued with the German finishing the final practice for tomorrow’s Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix on top of the time sheets, again the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team driver besting the field .
In a competitive session, Rosberg’s team-mate Michael Schumacher and World Champion, Sebastian Vettel both enjoyed periods in the fastest position, however on his final run, the Chinese Grand Prix winner last weekend set the pace.
With the Sakhir paddock seemingly more sedate after yesterday’s drama, Vettel was second quickest – slipping in a time just 0.147 behind Rosberg, with his team-mate, Mark Webber in third – Red Bull Racing seeming to have found some pace this weekend.
Fourth quickest was Vodafone McLaren Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, whilst seven-times World Champion and inaugural Bahrain winner, Michael Schumacher for Mercedes-AMG Petronas was fifth. Jenson Button was sixth quick with Kimi Raikkonen right behind him for Team Lotus.
Australia’s Daniel Ricciardo was eighth for Scuderia Toro Rosso, Romain Grosjean ninth and rounding out the 10 was Fernando Alonso for Ferrari.
Williams’ and Sauber’s pace seems to have tapered somewhat – finishing around the top 15.
Many paddock pundits are tipping Rosberg’s run to continue in qualifying this afternoon, however the pace of the Red Bulls appears ominous.
PRACTICE 3 RESULTS:
| 1. | Nico Rosberg | Mercedes | 1m33.254s |
| 2. | Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull-Renault | + 0.147s |
| 3. | Mark Webber | Red Bull-Renault | + 0.409s |
| 4. | Lewis Hamilton | McLaren-Mercedes | + 0.528s |
| 5. | Michael Schumacher | Mercedes | + 0.542s |
| 6. | Jenson Button | McLaren-Mercedes | + 0.645s |
| 7. | Kimi Raikkonen | Lotus-Renault | + 0.722s |
| 8. | Daniel Ricciardo | Toro Rosso-Ferrari | + 0.943s |
| 9. | Romain Grosjean | Lotus-Renault | + 1.147s |
| 10. | Fernando Alonso | Ferrari | + 1.641s |
| 11. | Pastor Maldonado | Williams-Renault | + 1.664s |
| 12. | Jean-Eric Vergne | Toro Rosso-Ferrari | + 1.723s |
| 13. | Sergio Perez | Sauber-Ferrari | + 1.813s |
| 14. | Kamui Kobayashi | Sauber-Ferrari | + 1.874s |
| 15. | Paul di Resta | Force India-Mercedes | + 2.082s |
| 16. | Felipe Massa | Ferrari | + 2.282s |
| 17. | Bruno Senna | Williams-Renault | + 2.369s |
| 18. | Heikki Kovalainen | Caterham-Renault | + 2.440s |
| 19. | Nico Hulkenberg | Force India-Mercedes | + 2.519s |
| 20. | Vitaly Petrov | Caterham-Renault | + 3.278s |
| 21. | Charles Pic | Marussia-Cosworth | + 4.013s |
| 22. | Timo Glock | Marussia-Cosworth | + 4.400s |
| 23. | Pedro de la Rosa | HRT-Cosworth | + 5.719s |
| 24. | Narain Karthikeyan | HRT-Cosworth | + 5.967s |
