Vettel on pole in Bahrain GP

Sebastian Vettel secured pole position for the Bahrain Grand Prix as the improved Red Bull edged out Lewis Hamilton. Vettel and his team-mate Mark Webber had been behind the two McLarens going in to their final laps but as Nico Rosberg faltered, both improved and Vettel's time of 1:32.422 was enough to give him his 31st pole position. Hamilton also improved on his final lap to take second, 0.1s behind Vettel with Webber a similar distance further back.

Jenson Button starts fourth after aborting his final lap, with Rosberg fifth. The Mercedes had looked quick throughout practice and the opening two qualifying sessions, but a couple of slight errors cost last weekend's winner.