Ferrari dominate first practice in Bahrain

MANAMA, Apr 13 (Reuters) Kimi Raikkonen put Ferrari back on top of the Formula One timesheets today, lapping half a second quicker than team mate Felipe Massa in first practice for Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix.

McLaren's British rookie Lewis Hamilton, who could make history this weekend as the first driver to finish his first three races on the podium, was again on impressive form with the third best time.

Double world champion Fernando Alonso, the overall leader who led Hamilton to a McLaren one-two in Malaysia last weekend, was fourth.

Alonso warned on Thursday that Ferrari, dominant in the Australian opener and in pre-season testing in Bahrain, remained the team to beat and those fears seemed entirely credible on Friday's evidence.

Raikkonen lapped in 1:33.162, 0.517 quicker than Massa and nearly a second faster than Hamilton on a track dirtied by overnight rainstorms.

Italian Jarno Trulli was fifth fastest for Toyota, after an early quick lap, ahead of the BMW Saubers of German Nick Heidfeld and Poland's Robert Kubica.

Champions Renault, winners for the past two years in Bahrain with Alonso, again looked to be struggling after a disappointing start to the season with neither of their drivers breaking into the top 10.

Finnish rookie Heikki Kovalainen was 12th and Italian Giancarlo Fisichella 14th.

Alonso leads Raikkonen, winner in Melbourne, by two points after two races. McLaren are also ahead of Ferrari at the top of the constructors' championship.

REUTERS SAM DS1600