Reigning world champion Max Verstappen has missed pole position in qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix.
On the Sakhir circuit, the Oracle Red Bull Racing driver just couldn’t match the time of Charles Leclerc (Ferrari): the difference was 0.123 seconds. Just 0.006 seconds behind Verstappen, the other Ferrari driver, Carlos Sainz, moved into third starting position.
Never won
“It was a very exciting battle with Charles and Carlos,” said Verstappen immediately after the session in front of the Formula 1 camera. “I think we have a good car, also in the race.” Verstappen has never won in Bahrain in eight previous appearances. He did, however, cross the finish line twice in second place.
Hamilton fifth
In the qualifying result, it was noticeable that Mercedes, the dominant team in Formula 1 in recent years, had to be satisfied with the fifth starting position (Lewis Hamilton) and the ninth place (George Russell). After qualifying, Verstappen was asked rhetorically whether he was very disappointed with the result of his rivals from last season. “Huge”, was the answer of the Red Bull driver.
Furthermore, McLaren disappointed enormously with a thirteenth place for Lando Norris and an eighteenth place for Daniel Ricciardo. Verstappen’s teammate, Sergio Perez, will start the race in fourth place on Sunday.
gauge
Due to the new technical regulations, Formula 1 enthusiasts were eagerly looking forward to the first qualifying of the season, because it is seen as the first real indicator of the year. Sunday will have to show which teams have put down a strong car over a full race distance.
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first race
The Bahrain GP is the first of a total of 23 races this season, a record number. Last season, after a dogged duel with rival Hamilton, Verstappen seized the world title in the very last race round of the year, the first in his career. He is therefore allowed to race with starting number 1 on the nose of the Red Bull this season.
Live
The race starts on Sunday at 4:00 PM Dutch time. The Bahrain GP can therefore be followed live via L1 Radio.
Watch the preview of the first race of the season in L1’s motorsport program Pitlane here: