Sakhir, Bahrain  - Nico Rosberg pipped Ferrari star Felipe Massa for first place on Saturday in a Williams in the third and final practice session for the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix.

The German Rosberg clocked 1 minute 32.521 seconds on the 5.412- kilometres track to beat Brazil's Massa (1:32.726) and Australian Red Bull driver Mark Webber
(1:32.742). Massa had dominated Friday practice and was also the winner of the 2007 Bahrain race.

World champion Kimi Raikkonen had 1:33.237 in the second Ferrari after sliding off the track in the session. Championship leader Lewis Hamilton of Britain had to be content with 18th place in 1:33.658 after crashing on Friday.

Qualifying was scheduled for later Saturday. The Bahrain GP over 57 laps, the third season race, takes place on Sunday.

Hamilton leads the standings with 14 points from Raikkonen and German BMW driver Nick Heidfeld, who have 11 points each. (dpa)