Jenson Button, fresh from celebrating the first podium finish of his Formula One career, dominated Bahrain Grand Prix practice today.
The 24-year-old BAR driver, a memorable third in Malaysia two weeks ago, topped the timesheets in both sessions at the new desert circuit that hosts the first grand prix in the Middle East tomorrow.
Button led the way in the first session with a lap of one minute 30.062 seconds and then slashed the time further to 1:29.552.
His lap was 0.855 of a second faster than Ferrari's six-times world champion Michael Schumacher, who is chasing both his third pole and third win in three races and ended practice with the fifth best time.
Germany's Ralf Schumacher in a Williams was second quickest, 0.138 slower, with Colombian team mate Juan Pablo Montoya third in the final session before qualifying.
McLaren's woes continued after Finland's Kimi Raikkonen's engine caught fire yesterday, forcing him to replace the unit and start tomorrow's race 10 places down from wherever he qualifies today.
Raikkonen ended the second session 11th fastest while team mate David Coulthard did not get in a lap after problems in the first run.