Bahrain Grand Prix

Qualifying for the Bahrain GP – 5pm LIVE

Max Verstappen starts the Bahrain Grand Prix from pole position.

(Bild: AFP)

World champion Max Verstappen has won the first showdown of the new Formula 1 season and secured pole position in qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix! 

The Dutchman in the Red Bull beat Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc (+0.228) and George Russell (+0.306) in the Mercedes on Friday in Sakhir. Verstappen will therefore start the record 24-race season opener on Saturday (4pm) from first place on the grid. For Verstappen, it was the 33rd pole of his career, putting the 26-year-old on a par with Jim Clark and Alain Prost in fifth place in the all-time leaderboard.

"We did a very good job!"
"We did very well and got everything out of it," the triple world champion radioed back to the pits with satisfaction. "It was a lot of fun. But it was a bit unexpected," added Verstappen, who was unfazed by the affair surrounding Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, with a mischievous smile a little later. Sergio Perez finished fifth in the second Red Bull (+0.358), just behind Carlos Sainz in the Ferrari (+0.328).

Here is the final result:

"It's nice when you can start from the front here!"
"In the end, the Max factor came into play again and it's obviously nice when you can start from the front here," said Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko on ServusTV. The 80-year-old Styrian is "relatively optimistic" about the opening race. "We know that our long runs were even better in relation to the qualifying pace."

"I'm a bit disappointed!"
Behind Verstappen, things were certainly close, with 42-year-old Fernando Alonso also within striking distance in sixth place (+0.363) in the Aston Martin. In cool temperatures of around 18 degrees Celsius and gusty winds on the Bahrain International Circuit, the ten teams revealed their cards for the first time this year, but little changed at the front. Leclerc was hoping for pole and was accordingly annoyed. "I'm a bit disappointed!" You can read more about it HERE!

"It's a new car and we're just learning!"
Mercedes, who were twice ahead in the second practice session, could also be satisfied. However, the Silver Arrows changed their setup with a view to a better performance in the race. "We probably took out a bit too much performance. Youth explores, it's a new car and we're just learning," said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff. The Viennese spoke of a good start. "I hope that what we believe comes true and that we simply have more race performance."

However, record world champion Lewis Hamilton was unable to finish higher than ninth and started behind the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Alpine suffered the biggest disappointment, with the two Frenchmen Esteban Ocon (19th) and Pierre Gasly (20th) starting the first race of the season from the back of the grid.

The season opener in the Persian Gulf will take place on Saturday, as the second race in Saudi Arabia has been postponed by one day due to the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan (from March 10) and the F1 rules stipulate a break of one week. Verstappen is aiming for his fourth World Championship title in a row this year, while the Austro racing team Red Bull is looking to build on its 21 wins from 22 races last season.