Bahrain FP2: Vettel and Ferrari have the upper hand

Sebastian Vettel was a mere o.035 of a second quicker than Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc in FP2 at Sakhir, the Reds finding pace that eluded them at the season opener in Australia a couple of weeks ago.

Despite Lewis Hamilton finishing third quickest, Mercedes appeared to be on the back foot, six tenths down on the top time and a tenth up on Valtteri Bottas in the sister car.

Toto Wolff appeared unfazed by the gap to their rivals, but did point out to Sky F1, "It's a completely different Ferrari to what we saw in Melbourne. You can see the enormous straight-line power of the Ferrari, it is where they are making all the gains up."

"In terms of pure pace, it's definitely more Barcelona than it was in Melbourne," added Wolff.

Whatever the gaffer says, reading too much into the difference would be hazardous, as Mercedes are sure to dial it up as the weekend evolves. For now the powder is dry, and we know they have ample lying around.

Nico Hulkenberg was best of the rest, eight tenths down on the top time suggesting some firepower in the Renault in the desert conditions.

Oddly his new teammate was struggling and only good for 15th, a whopping 1.2 seconds down on the sister car.

The Honda brigade were notably subdued with Max Verstappen sixth fastest in the Red Bull, almost a full second down on Vettel. In the sister car, Pierre Gasly's struggles as he was only good for 12th, seven tenths slower than his teammate. Daniil Kvyat was tenth in the Toro Rosso, with rookie Alex Albon 13th.

Both Haas drivers finished in the top ten with Kevin Magnussen seventh and Romain Grosjean ninth, the pair split by Lando Norris, the McLaren rookie a couple of tenths quicker than teammate Carlos Sainz in 11th.

On an afternoon in which it was announced that Patrick Head will return to help the team, at the wrong end of the timing sheets were the Williams duo, George Russell in 19th was three seconds down on the top time with Robert Kubica another second adrift and slowest of all.