By Phil Huff
March 11 2006

We arrive in Bahrain for qualifying, the first race of the season and the first of the new style qualifying sessions. There'll be three sessions within the next hour, the first two simply knocking out the slowest six cars in each session. Following that, the remaining 10 cars go out on race fuel levels, before setting their fast laps for pole. As the session starts, it's windy but warm and dry, with a track temperature of 33°C and an air temperature of 22°C.

An uneventful first 10 minutes for the new Formula One season, with few teams electing to run any laps. Honda Racing F1's Rubens Barrichello, electing to go out quite late in the first part of qualifying, got held up at the weighbridge, but managed to get out and set a lap good enough for third. Topping the sheets after 10 minutes was Liuzzi, before the session came to an abrupt halt after Kimi Raikkonen's McLaren left a trail of debris following a suspension failure.

As such, Raikkonen will start at the back of the grid, but it also hinders the Honda team's preparations, as Button was on track at the time. Button, and the other big hitters such as Schumacher, Montoya and Alonso, all have just one chance to set a time for this session, or face failing to make the cut.

After a five minute break to clear the debris, the field return to the track. Super Aguri's Takuma Sato gets out first, with Button sandwiching Felipe Massa. For the first time in years, an astonishing 19 cars take to the track at once. With 2:49 left, the final lap of the first session starts.

Button goes second, securing his slot in at least the top 16 cars. Alonso sets the fastest lap, and Rubens Barrichello secures 12th, putting him into the next round, but Ralf Schumacher's Toyota is knocked out, the German only managing to set the 17th fastest lap.

A brief five minute break, and then the top 16 cars are off again!

First out is Liuzzi's Toro Rosso, but Button and Barrichello are close behind. Barrichello sets a slowish lap, seemingly struggling to get tuned into the Bahrain circuit. Button's also some way off the pace, with Klien's Red Bull about 1.5s faster.

Heidfeld then sets a quick time, bringing his BMW-Sauber up into the top 10. Halfway through the 15 minute session, it's Klien on top, followed by Heidfeld, Villeneuve, Liuzzi, Button, Coulthard, Speed and Barrichello. Ferrari, McLaren, Renault and Williams have yet to set a time.

On that note, Montoya goes out and smashes the fastest lap, with Schumacher on track, too. A mistake at the last turn costs Schumacher, and he goes P2.

Scott Speed, in his V10 Toro Rosso, goes 10th, pushing Rubens Barrichello into the knockout zone, and Button's been demoted following some good laps from Rosberg, Villeneuve and Webber.

Three minutes left and there's time for one single flying lap.

Barrichello does it, going up to sixth with a 1:32.323, just under a second behind Montoya, while Button goes out on track.

A good 1:32.025 puts Button fourth, but Renault's are out, as are Williams. Barrichello is in danger, now seventh.

Rosberg spins, but rejoins. That should secure Barrichello's position.

As that happens, the Renault's cross the line. World champion Fernando Alonso goes fastest, with Fisichella third.

At the flag, the knockouts are Villeneuve, Rosberg, Coulthard, Trulli, Liuzzi and Speed. Barrichello cuts it fine, finishing 10th, while Button ends up in P7. Fastest is Alonso, followed by Montoya, Fisichella, Heidfeld, Massa and Michael Schumacher.

Another break, and then the final 20 minute session. As before, the current times are deleted and they start again. Using race levels of fuel, it's no longer about outright pace but race strategy, but pole position looks a tricky proposition for the Honda drivers.

The clock starts, and the chase for that pole position begins. Eight cars head out on track immediately, leaving behind Heidfeld and Massa.

We're expecting a 15 minute period of just driving around and burning up fuel, before some fast pit stops for new tyres followed by a quick blast to set the time.

Massa goes out on track, while the train of cars goes round 5 seconds off the pace. Barrichello leads, pushing hard in the first sector before backing off.

A couple of minutes later and it becomes apparent that this is perhaps less interesting that the old style qualifying, but Massa does go faster.

Renault seemingly have a short first stint in the race planned, at least guessing from the comments over the team radio. With Honda's apparent first lap disadvantage shown in testing, that's likely to see Renault pull out a significant early lead.

After eight minutes of aimless circulating, the order is Massa, Barrichello, Schumacher, Alonso, Webber, Fisichella, Button, Klien, Montoya and Heidfeld, but there's a tyre change and a final blast to follow.

And then there is a change! Both Honda's come into the pits for a new set of boots, and head out again. Honda possibly look set to get a 'banker' in, or perhaps are looking at doing two final sprints.

Schumacher sets the fastest first sector on new tyres, 0.4 ahead of Button, who's in turn a further 0.2 ahead of Barrichello.

And now it's the fastest second sector for Schumacher, and then a third. A 1:31.595 sets pole, while Button can only respond with a 1:32.129 for P2. Barrichello follows into third, a 1:33.134.

Button goes quicker on his second lap, but only by a tenth, while Barrichello improves to 1:32.941, with both remaining in second and third respectively.

Massa outpaces Schumacher by 0.072, with the Ferrari drivers holding first and second. With five minutes it's Massa, Schumacher, Button, Barrichello, Fisichella, Webber, Alonso, Klien, Montoya and Heidfeld.

More new tyres for Schumacher with four minutes left, as the entire train pits for new tyres and a one lap final gamble.

It's a shootout for pole!

Schumacher's quick and tidy, setting fastest sector times again. Less than a tenth faster than Massa, Schumacher sets pole with a 1:31.431, but there's another nine cars out there.

Button's faster than previously, but the sector times are slower than Ferrari's. He stays third, a 1:31.549 is strong, but there's time for one more lap.

Heidfeld runs wide on the last corner, ending up 10th. Montoya goes fourth, splitting the Honda's. Button's final lap isn't an improvement, as Alonso then goes fourth, pushing Montoya and Barrichello back.

Fisichella struggles to ninth, but what fuel loads do they have?

As the last laps finish, the final order sees Michael Schumacher on pole position, ahead of team mate Massa, giving an all-Ferrari front row. Honda's Button heads Alonso, Montoya and team mate Barrichello. Webber goes seventh, followed by Klien, Fisichella and Heidfeld.

Apart from a 10 minute period of boredom, the new qualifying system could probably be called a success. There was drama, excitement and expectation, and Formula One delivered.

As did Ferrari. Michael Schumacher now matches Ayrton Senna's record of 65 pole positions, and who would bet against the Italian team holding the performance advantage they have through to tomorrow's race?