3
16:51
It’s all about the flying laps
Now it’s getting serious! The drivers go for their first flying laps in Q3! Max Verstappen has the best time in the first sector. Close behind Sainz.
2
16:49
Mercedes is the first
The Mercedes drivers with George Russell and Lewis Hamilton make the start in Q3, both are initially on a used set of softs.
1
16:48
Q3 started
Now it’s about everything! Who will secure pole in the first race of the season? The drivers have twelve minutes to set the best time.
15
16:42
Q2 ended
The time is up and in the end it’s not up to Mick Schumacher! The Haas driver is eliminated in twelfth place. Esteban Ocon, Lance Stroll, Alex Albon and Guanyu Zhou also have to watch in Q3. Verstappen drove the best time just ahead of Sainz and Leclerc.
13
16:39
Sainz just behind Verstappen
After Ferrari did the first run on a used set, the driver duo is now on a new set, allowing both drivers to improve. Sainz is just 0.030 seconds behind Verstappen, Lecerc is 0.175 seconds behind.
12
16:38
It’s over for Albon
Meanwhile, Alex Albon is already breaking up. The Williams driver doesn’t expect more than 13th place. In addition, there is still a lot of activity on the route. In addition to Albon, only Verstappen and Magnussen are in the pits.
10
16:36
Schumacher on the road again
For his part, Mick Schumacher has just steered his Haas back onto the track. Can the German make it into the top ten and thus into Q3?
9
16:35
Problems with Magnussen
Is that bitter! Kevin Magussen has a problem with the hydraulics! He should come back to the pits without shifting gears so that the team can look at it.
8th
16:33
Who is currently out?
There are still seven minutes to drive. In addition to Mick Schumacher, Lando Norris, Pierre Gasly, Guanyu Zhou and Alex Albon, who has not yet clocked in Q2, would also have been eliminated.
7
16:32
Hamilton slower than the Haas
For his part, Lewis Hamilton can’t even beat Kevin Magnussen’s time and ranks fifth behind the Haas driver. Russell is sixth. Mick Schumacher couldn’t keep up with his teammate either. He is currently eliminated in eleventh place.
6
16:31
Max Verstappen’s new best time in Q2
Max Verstappen easily pulverizes the previous best time. The world champion needed 1:30.757 minutes for his lap. Leclerc can’t get there either. He’s missing a good half a second. Magnussen is now fourth.
5
4:30 p.m
First time in Q2 comes from Magnussen
Kevin Magnussen marks the first best time in Q2. There was a 1:31.461 from the Dane in Haas. But it shouldn’t last long, because some are much faster.
4
16:29
It’s all about the fast laps
Alex Albon came back to the pits without a lap time, the other drivers are turning up the heat and it won’t be long before the first lap times are posted.
3
16:27
It fills up
The track in Bahrain is slowly beginning to fill up again. More and more pilots steer their cars out of the box. Including Mick Schumacher in Haas.
2
16:25
Albon is the first
Alex Albon in Williams will start in Q2. The Thai is on a used set of the softs.
1
16:25
Q2 started
The track is open again and we continue with Q2. The drivers now have 15 minutes to secure one of the coveted spots in the top ten. As a reminder: From this year onwards, all drivers in the field have a free choice of tires at the start and no longer those outside the top ten.
18
16:20
Q1 ended
The last laps have been driven. Aston Martin has had a bitter start to the season. In addition to Nico Hülkenberg, Lance Stroll is already out. It’s also over for Yuki Tsunoda, Daniel Ricciardo and Nicholas Latifi. Charles Leclerc set the best time ahead of Sainz and Verstappen. Mick Schumacher qualified 13th for Q2.
17
16:16
Norris manages to increase
Lando Norris manages to improve again on the fresh set of tyres. He settles in sixth place and should therefore be safe in Q2. Ricciardo stays outside the top 15.
15
16:14
It’s getting full again
The track is getting crowded again and three minutes before the end of Q1 the drivers are back out of the pit lane. The two Ferrari and Verstappen seem to give each other the second run.
13
16:12
Hulkenberg is currently retired
Nico Hulkenberg would have been eliminated at the moment. The Aston Martin driver is in 17th place. Also out would be Lance Stroll in the second Aston Martin. Daniel Ricciardo, Yuki Tsundoda and Nicholas Latifi are also currently out. The majority of the field is currently back in the pit lane to prepare for a possible second run.
11
16:11
Hamilton in fifth
Lewis Hamilton will not be satisfied after his first lap. He was still close in the first sector, but in the middle sector he loses enormously and in the end it is 0.8 seconds behind the leader. Means fifth place. George Russell is tenth just ahead of Mick Schumacher.
10
16:10
Charles Leclerc’s new best time in Q1
Charles Leclerc is really doing something now. Charles Leclerc pulverizes the previous best time. With a time of 1:31.471, Verstappen is four tenths past. Sainz is also faster than the Red Bull driver. The Merceds drivers are now also on the track.
9
16:09
Bottas close
Strong round from Valtteri Bottas! The Finn puts in a top lap and is just 0.010 seconds behind Max Verstappen. Did Red Bull really get everything out of it?
8th
16:07
Schumacher in fourth place
Haas is off to a good start. Kevin Magnussen takes a good second place, while Mick Schumacher secures fifth place. The two Mercedes drivers are not yet on the track.
7
16:07
Max Verstappen’s new best time in Q1
Max Verstappen marks a new best time in Q1. With a 1:31.909, he is 1.1 seconds ahead of Pierre Gasly.
6
16:05
The track fills up
The track is starting to fill up more and more and most drivers have now started qualifying. Mick Schumacher and Nico Hulkenberg are also on the road.
5
16:05
Red Bull already on the way
The first top teams also send their drivers onto the track. Max Verstappen starts as the first driver in the Red Bull team, followed by Sergio Pérez.
3
16:04
First lap times
The two AlphaTauri drivers set the first lap times in Q1. A 1:33.016 is available from Pierre Gasly. Back in the pits are the Williams, who did an installation lap on the medium.
3
16:02
McLaren is also getting started
McLaren has also started qualifying in the meantime. So far, things haven’t gone as planned for the British team and there haven’t been any big results in the training sessions so far. Both drivers are on the soft.
1
16:00
Start qualifying
The traffic lights are green, qualifying has started in Al Manāma. Five drivers will be eliminated in the next 18 minutes. The first starters are already on the track.
15:55
The distance
The first race of another long season will be held on the Bahrain International Circuit. In the middle of the desert, the focus is always on the wind force, because wind drifts can cause sand on the route. This is almost exactly 5,412 kilometers long and offers the dangerous curve 10 in the second sector. Shortly after the easier, ninth curve, there are often braking errors that can cost valuable time.
15:49
Vettel is absent from the season opener
Sebastian Vettel is not in the car at the start of the season. The four-time world champion tested positive for Corona shortly before the first race of the year. The reserve driver, Nico Hülkenberg, is also a German. So far, he has done his job really well and only landed just behind regular driver Lance Stroll.
15:45
What goes for Schumacher?
But it will also be exciting in midfield. The training sessions have shown that Haas in particular was able to make a big leap this season and suddenly the backbencher seems to have a chance of making the top ten. Kevin Magnussen was seventh in practice 3, on Friday both pilots finished in the top ten in practice 2.
15:38
Who gets the first pole?
After the teams and drivers had time to get used to the track in three practice sessions, it’s now time to let your pants down in qualifying. Max Verstappen, who set the best time in practice 2 and 3, is the favorite going into qualifying. Ferrari has also positioned itself with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. You can be curious about Mercedes. The team started the weekend with a big deficit, but seems to be slowly finding the right setup.
15:29
A new era begins
The 2022 season heralds a new era in Formula 1. A new technical regulation comes into force and fundamentally changes the cars. The front and rear wings have been simplified, which it is hoped will make tailgating and overtaking easier. There are also new tires: 18 inch instead of 13 inch tires.
Welcome!
Things get really serious for the first time at the Formula 1 opener in Bahrain and the drivers fight for pole for the first race of the 2022 season. It starts at 16:00!