Germany's Nico Rosberg took Mercedes' second successive pole position in qualifying for the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix this afternoon.

Compatriot and triple world champion Sebastian Vettel joined him on the front row for Red Bull.

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso will share the second row in Sunday's race with Brazilian team mate Felipe Massa after penalties for Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull's Mark Webber.

Hamilton was on pole at the previous race in China.

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