McLaren to Replace Raikkonen's Engine

Finland's Kimi Raikkonen will lose ten grid positions in Saturday's qualifying after suffering an engine failure in today's second practice session.

McLaren driver Raikkonen, who is still to finish a race this season following two mechanical failures in Australia and Malaysia, stopped on track, fire coming out from the back of his car, around 10 minutes after the start of the second practice session for the Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sakhir circuit.

"I'm obviously disappointed to lose almost all of the second practice session due to an engine failure," said the Finn. "All of a sudden I just lost all power. It's a shame as I was going to go for it, as I had used the first session to familiarise myself with the track.

"I quite like the circuit, and it's not too dusty or slippery. However there are a lot of small stones flying up sometimes particularly if you are behind somebody."

Under new regulations, drivers are allowed to use only one engine during the three days of the Grand Prix. A driver who is forced to replace his engine will be dropped ten grid positions.

Teammate David Coulthard also stopped with five minutes remaining after a rear tyre came off the wheel rim and pitched him at speed across the runoff. The Scot, who got out and pushed his car off the circuit despite an air temperature of around 31 degrees celsius, was not the only Michelin driver to have a tyre failure.

"Obviously not the best start to the weekend," said the Scot. "Towards the end of the second session I had a left rear tyre failure which caused me to go off the track and we are looking into why at the moment as it can be a number of factors.

"However I did manage to get a few laps in and the track does represent an interesting challenge."