BBC Sport brings you a regular round-up of the gossip in newspapers and on specialist websites around the world.

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone calls for patience in the wake of the negativity surrounding the tedious opening Grand Prix of the new season.

sportinglife.com

Mercedes MD Nick Fry has added his voice to the growing chorus calling for the FIA to react quickly to the lack of action on display in Bahrain.

autosport.com

The promised thrills failed to materialise as the new F1 season began with victory for Ferrari in Bahrain. Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button were among those blaming the effect of the new regulations for the lack of incident.

Full story: The Guardian

Find that old tin of Dulux and splash a bit of it on the living room wall around the start of the next grand prix in Australia, in case you need something to watch if the racing is as dull as it was in Bahrain.

Full story: The Times

After months spent building up the Most Exciting Season in the History of F1 we witnessed the cure for insomnia. The new rules patently failed to improve the racing.

Full story: The Daily Telegraph

After a routine race to sixth, Michael Schumacher said overtaking is 'basically impossible' under this year's regulations. The former world champion says it can only be done if the driver in front makes a significant error.

Full story: ESPN F1

Lewis Hamilton admitted on the eve of the Bahrain Grand Prix that he had effectively 'sacked' his father. The truth illustrates the ruthless streak at the heart of the 2008 world champion's character.

Full story; The Mail Online

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh believes F1 needs to consider immediate rule tweaks to spice up the spectacle after new regulations failed to deliver an exciting race in Bahrain.

Full story: autosport.com

After five months of anticipation, in many ways the Bahrain Grand Prix was one long anti-climax, the lack of action leaving fans fearing another season of 'same old, same old'.

Full story: pitpass.com

Fernando Alonso insists that Ferrari's 1-2 finish in the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix does not make the Scuderia favourites to dominate this year's F1 campaign.

Full story: crash.net

This story will be updated through the day.

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