McLaren`s Bahrain `failure` - experts

Bahrain staged a changing of the guard near the very top of the formula one pecking order, according to experts.

“For McLaren is was a pretty brutal failure,” 1982 world champion Keke Rosberg told the German broadcaster Premiere, referring to the Mercedes-powered team.

Heikki Kovalainen finished clearly behind both Ferraris and BMWs at Sakhir, while Lewis Hamilton swapped his usual engineers` briefing for his car back to the hotel following a nightmare race.

“BMW were clearly better than the Silver Arrows,” former triple world champion Niki Lauda agreed, according to Bild newspaper.

Rosberg, however - whose 22-year-old son finished the race eighth for Williams - turned to the midfield for his driver of the day.

“For me, it was Giancarlo Fisichella,” said the Finn, after the veteran Roman finished 12th following a close duel with Rubens Barrichello`s Honda.

Source: GMM

7.4.2008   ▪ Formula One    ▪ McLaren    ▪ en.f1-live.com