Max Verstappen showed his dominance in the first qualifying session of the 2024 Formula 1 season, as he secured pole position for the Bahrain Grand Prix with a stunning lap. The Red Bull driver beat Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by 0.228 seconds, while Mercedes’ George Russell completed the top three.
Red Bull vs Ferrari battle heats up
The battle between Red Bull and Ferrari for the 2024 title got off to a thrilling start in Bahrain, as both teams fought for the top spot in qualifying. Verstappen, who is aiming for his fourth consecutive world championship, had to dig deep to fend off Leclerc, who impressed with his pace in the Ferrari SF-24.
Verstappen set the fastest time in Q1 and Q3, but was beaten by Leclerc in Q2 by 0.020 seconds. The Dutchman saved his best for last, as he delivered a flawless lap of 1:29.179 in Q3, breaking the track record and securing his 33rd career pole position.
Leclerc, who scored Ferrari’s first pole since the 2021 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, was delighted with his performance, but admitted he could not match Verstappen’s pace. The Monegasque driver said he gave everything he had, but was still happy with second place.
Russell, who replaced Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes this year, showed his potential by taking third place, only 0.306 seconds behind Verstappen. The Briton, who is widely regarded as a future champion, outqualified his illustrious team-mate by 0.225 seconds.
Mercedes struggle for speed
Mercedes, who have dominated the sport for the past seven years, faced a difficult start to the new season, as they struggled for speed and balance in Bahrain. Hamilton, who is set to join Ferrari in 2025, could only manage ninth place, his worst qualifying result since the 2018 German Grand Prix.
The seven-time world champion said he was surprised by the gap to Red Bull and Ferrari, and admitted he had a lot of work to do to improve his race pace. Hamilton said he did not understand why his car was so slow, and hoped to find some answers overnight.
Perez, who joined Red Bull from Aston Martin this year, was fifth, 0.358 seconds behind his team-mate. The Mexican driver said he was still adapting to his new car, and expected to improve as the season progressed.
Alonso shines on Aston Martin debut
Fernando Alonso, who made his comeback to Formula 1 with Aston Martin, was one of the stars of qualifying, as he took sixth place, only 0.363 seconds behind Verstappen. The two-time world champion, who last raced in F1 in 2018, said he was very happy with his performance, and praised his team for their hard work.
Alonso, who is partnered by Lance Stroll, who was 12th, said he felt comfortable in the Aston Martin AMR-24, and looked forward to the race. The Spaniard, who won the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2005 and 2006, said he was confident of scoring some good points.
McLaren and Haas surprise
McLaren and Haas also surprised with their qualifying results, as they both placed two cars in the top 10. McLaren, who switched to Mercedes engines this year, had Lando Norris in seventh and Oscar Piastri in eighth. Norris, who is starting his third season with the team, said he was pleased with his lap, but felt he could have done better. Piastri, who is making his F1 debut after winning the Formula 2 title last year, said he was thrilled with his result, and thanked his team for their support.
Haas, who have been struggling at the back of the grid for the past two years, had a remarkable turnaround, as they had Nico Hulkenberg in 10th and Kevin Magnussen in 15th. Hulkenberg, who returned to F1 with Haas after a year out, said he was very happy with his performance, and credited his team for their improvement. Magnussen, who is starting his fourth season with Haas, said he was proud of his team, and hoped to have a good race.
Alpine and Sauber disappoint
Alpine and Sauber were the biggest disappointments of qualifying, as they both failed to make it to Q2. Alpine, who rebranded from Renault this year, had Esteban Ocon in 19th and Pierre Gasly in 20th. Ocon, who is starting his second season with the team, said he was very frustrated with his result, and blamed traffic and wind for his lack of pace. Gasly, who joined Alpine from Red Bull, said he was very disappointed with his performance, and admitted he made a mistake by exceeding track limits.
Sauber, who have a new partnership with Kick, had Valtteri Bottas in 16th and Zhou Guanyu in 17th. Bottas, who left Mercedes after seven seasons, said he was not happy with his result, and complained of a lack of grip and balance in his Sauber C24. Zhou, who is the first Chinese driver to race in F1, said he was not satisfied with his result, and hoped to learn from his experience.
The race
The Bahrain Grand Prix, the first race of the 2024 season, will take place on Saturday at 15:00 GMT. Verstappen will start from pole position, with Leclerc alongside him on the front row. Russell and Sainz will share the second row, followed by Perez and Alonso on the third row. Norris and Piastri will start from the fourth row, while Hamilton and Hulkenberg will complete the top 10.
The race is expected to be a close and exciting battle between Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes, with tyre strategy and pit stops playing a crucial role. The drivers will also have to cope with the hot and windy conditions, as well as the tricky track limits.
You can watch the race live on Sky Sports F1, or follow the live updates on The Independent.
