Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber) set his first ever Formula One pole position by using Bridgestone's soft compound Potenza to go fastest at the Bahrain International Circuit for the third round of the FIA Formula One World Championship, the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix.

Kubica's time of 1min 33.096secs enabled Kubica and his BMW Sauber team to secure their first pole position by almost three hundredths of a second from second fastest, Felipe Massa (Ferrari). Lewis Hamilton (McLaren Mercedes) and Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) qualified on the second row, with Hamilton the faster. Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren Mercedes) and Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber) qualified on the third row, with Kovalainen ahead in fifth spot.

Jarno Trulli (Toyota) qualified in seventh, Nico Rosberg (Williams) eighth whilst Jenson Button (Honda) and Fernando Alonso (Renault) rounded off the top ten qualifiers. Massa set the day's fastest lap time, a 1min 31.188secs set in Q2, on the soft compound.

The morning practice session saw Nico Rosberg (Williams) top with a 1min 32.521secs, set on the soft compound. Times were very close in this session, with the top 13 cars within a second of Rosberg's lap.

Higher winds than Friday provided a challenge to teams trying to find an aerodynamic balance today. Dry, hot weather graced the track meaning only Bridgestone's dry weather grooved tyres were used.

Tetsuro Kobayashi - Technical Manager, Bridgestone Motorsport:
"Congratulations to Robert Kubica and BMW Sauber for their first pole position. This was the third driver in as many races to achieve pole which shows how close it is this season, with all drivers on Bridgestone Potenza tyres. Both compounds performed well today. The soft compound was clearly the faster and both compounds gave consistent lap times. The data we have analysed so far suggests that many different tyre strategies will be possible for tomorrow's race which should add to the excitement. Running was difficult for some drivers due to a change in wind direction and increased wind speeds from yesterday. With no traction control this will present a challenge for drivers if we see high wind speeds tomorrow. "