Lewis Hamilton made it pole position for the fourth time in a row for the first time in his Formula One career with a storming performance in the desert in Bahrain.

A small mistake from Lewis Hamilton allowed Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg to gain the upper hand in second practice for the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Ferrari are back as Sebastian Vettel ended the famous marque’s 34-race drought without a victory by taking a well-deserved chequered flag in Malaysia.

Formula One’s toughest race of the year on Sunday will be no sweat for Nico Rosberg – thanks to the use of a sanitary towel as a headband.

Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button face the prospect of being at opposite ends of the grid for Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix given the differing fortunes of the two British Formula One stars at the start of the new season. 

Nico Rosberg sent out an ominous warning to the rest of Formula One by setting the fastest time so far on day two of the final pre-season test in Barcelona.

Fernando Alonso spent last night in hospital after suffering concussion in a heavy crash in testing in Barcelona.

Nico Rosberg managed to get the initial upper hand over Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton in opening practice ahead of Sunday’s Brazilian Grand Prix.