Brawn, Red Bull lead new order into Bahrain

SAKHIR, Bahrain: Formula One's new order have another chance to hammer home their supremacy this weekend at the Bahrain Grand Prix, the fourth round of this year's topsy-turvy world championship.

After the three season-opening races in Australia, Malaysia and China, the new Brawn GP team leads the way ahead of Red Bull, who collected their maiden victory last Sunday in Shanghai, while the 'establishment' are puffing in pursuit. In the drivers' championship, Jenson Button is on top ahead of his Brawn team-mate Rubens Barrichello, with 21-year-old Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull third.

Defending world champion Lewis Hamilton, struggling to find some form and repair his reputation after a controversial start to the season, has yet to finish on the podium and, like his McLaren Mercedes team-mate Heikki Kovalainen and both Ferrari drivers, has been unable to mount a challenge for victory.