Hamilton sees 'big battle' brewing for quali with faster Ferrari

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Lewis Hamilton endured a brutal day in the Bahrain heat on Friday, ending FP2 seventh following a cooler run in the early evening.

Hamilton gauged his car and conditions in the earlier part of the day before running through the team's programmes in FP2 in an environment closer to what tomorrow's qualifying session should deliver.

"A pretty normal Friday, really," Hamilton said.

"It was incredibly hot early on, with some of the very toughest conditions - both physically and in terms of working with the tyres.

"We got through that and then it was much cooler in the afternoon, giving us a much better representation of what qualifying and the race will be like."

Vettel survives shutdown scare to stay fastest in FP2

If anything, the Mercedes stalwart is expecting an even bigger challenge from arch rival Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari as the weekend progresses.

"I was able to get a much better understanding of where the car is in FP2. It was very close, with Ferrari fastest.

"In race trim they seem a couple of tenths quicker, so I'm expecting a great battle tomorrow and then again on Sunday. We'll work as hard as we can to try to close that gap.

"I have a great group of fans here and I tried to wave to them every time I went out. Their smiles really make a big difference. "
GALLERY: All the pictures from Friday in Bahrain

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.