Apr.7 (GMM) Bahrain staged a changing of the guard near the very top of the formula one pecking order, according to experts.



"For McLaren is was a pretty brutal failure," 1982 world champion Keke Rosberg told the German broadcaster Premiere, referring to the Mercedes-powered team.



Heikki Kovalainen finished clearly behind both Ferraris and BMWs at Sakhir, while Lewis Hamilton swapped his usual engineers' briefing for his car back to the hotel following a nightmare race.



"BMW were clearly better than the Silver Arrows," former triple world champion Niki Lauda agreed, according to Bild newspaper.



Rosberg, however - whose 22-year-old son finished the race eighth for Williams - turned to the midfield for his driver of the day.



"For me, it was Giancarlo Fisichella," said the Finn, after the veteran Roman finished twelfth following a close duel with Rubens Barrichello's Honda.