Formula One news

Massa fastest on frantic final day in Bahrain

Fast and furious was the only phrase to describe a frantic final day of official Formula One testing at the Bahrain International Circuit. For the fourth time in six days of testing it was Felipe Massa's Ferrari that topped the timesheets when the action stopped. His time was a blistering 1m 29.989s, unofficially shattering the three-year-old qualifying and race lap records set by Michael Schumacher in a 3.0-litre Ferrari at the inaugural Bahrain Grand Prix. 

Massa was among many drivers to have set their fastest laps in this morning's session. The cooler conditions during the early running each day meant that this was always the best time to generate pure speed - prompting a flurry of personal bests throughout the field, some of which were amazingly against the 'run of play' in the opening five days. 

Kovalainen was second fastes ahead of Fisichella on a good final day for Renault while Raikkonen ended fourth in the second Ferrari, half a second down on Massa.

Reigning champion Alonso was fifth ahead of Barrichello, de la Rosa, Speed, Coulthard and Heidfeld. BMW continued to suffer some reliability issues on the final day despite having a quick car - with two stoppages, one each for Heidfeld and Kubica.

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