Hamilton conceded the shunt 10 minutes from the end of the second practice session was of his own making.

The 23-year-old lost the rear end of his car through turn six of the Sakhir Circuit before sliding sideways across a run-off area and with some force into a tyre wall.

Although Hamilton emerged from the cockpit unscathed after a few moments to compose himself, his car was in a far less healthy state.

"It didn't hurt, and was just one of those things," said Hamilton, who suffered severely bruised ribs after ploughing nose first into a tyre wall at the Nurburgring in qualifying for last year's European Grand Prix.

"As for the chassis, I think we're okay. The car was quite badly damaged, but the team will do a good job to fix it.

"I apologise to the guys, but this is racing. This is what happens and I'm fine about it. I'm just eager to get back out there.

"Tomorrow's another day, and we've a good car, so I feel quite comfortable."

Hamilton and team-mate Heikki Kovalainen both trailed the Ferrari duo of Felipe Massa and world champion Kimi Raikkonen throughout the two 90-minute sessions.

Yet Hamilton, who has a three-point lead in the title race after the opening two grands prix in Australia and Malaysia, added: "I rate my chances.

"Ferrari are very quick again as always, but we are close, and I'm sure we'll both show our true colours tomorrow so we will have to wait and see."

Hamilton still ended the second session with the fourth quickest time, albeit almost 1.5 seconds down on man of the day Massa.

Massa certainly appeared as if he was trying to prove his worth at Ferrari by posting the fastest time in both sessions.

The 26-year-old has come under fire of late after his performances in the opening two races from which he has emerged pointless.

Although an engine failure accounted for Massa in Melbourne, that was only after he had spun off the track at the first corner and was later involved in a shunt with Red Bull's David Coulthard.

Then 12 days ago in Sepang, the Brazilian suffered a loss of concentration that saw him spin out of the race whilst holding onto a comfortable second place.

Massa knows the pressure is mounting on his shoulders, and that he cannot afford similar mistakes this weekend.

He did not put a wheel wrong over the three practice hours, with his best lap time a one minute 31.240 seconds, a second quicker than his pole position lap of a year ago.

This is undoubtedly a track Massa loves as he was a pole to flag winner last season, and there is every prospect he could repeat the feat.

"I am pleased with today," reflected Massa.

"I think we are working in the right direction in terms of setting up the car and so I feel confident about the rest of the weekend.

"I like this track and I think we will be very competitive."

Raikkonen was almost a second adrift, with Kovalainen third, just edging Hamilton into fourth.

Coulthard was a strong seventh, with Jenson Button 11th for Honda, while Super Aguri's Anthony Davidson brought up the rear over four seconds down.