Sakhir, Bahrain - Ferrari on Friday showed that they are the team to beat in Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix as they as they finished both free practice sessions in first and second place.

Felipe Massa, who has yet to finish a race this season, twice posted the fastest time ahead of team-mate Kimi Raikkonen.

The Brazilian posted a time of one minute 31.420 seconds in the second session for the 5.412-kilometres lap in Sakhir, with Finland's Raikkonen close behind on 1:32.327.

The McLaren-Mercedes duo of Heikki Kovalainen and Lewis Hamilton were third and fourth fastest - more than one second behind Massa.

With ten minutes remaining Hamilton slipped off the track in a corner and badly damaged the car as he slammed into a wall of tyres. The Briton escaped unscathed though.

McLaren team principal Ron Dennis said that Hamilton went over the curb too high. "He then just lost the grip. He is fine though, probably a bit bruised.

"We will have to work till midnight, but should have no problem in fixing the car for Saturday."

BMW's Robert Kubica was fifth-fastest in the afternoon, ahead of the Williams of Nico Rosberg and David Coulthard in a Red Bull.

In the earlier session Massa clocked 1 minute 32.233, with Raikkonen close behind on 1:32.350.

Rosberg of Germany was third on 1:32.415, finishing ahead of Hamilton (1:32.705) and Kovalainen (1:32.868).

Briton Hamilton leads the drivers standings after two season races with 14 points from Raikkonen and German BMW driver Nick Heidfeld, who have 11 points each.

Massa won in Bahrain last year ahead of Hamilton and Raikkonen.

Qualifying for the race is scheduled for Saturday, while the race over 57 laps is on Sunday. The Bahrain track is said to favour Ferrari over McLaren. (dpa)