Max Verstappen Claims First Pole Position Of 2024 In Bahrain Grand Prix Qualifying

newspaper2020

March 1

By Robert Haile

Formula One has returned and Pole Position went to Max Verstappen for the Bahrain Grand Prix.

The three time world champion got his title defence underway as he took pole position by two tenths ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc with Mercedes' George Russell only a tenth further back.

In a closer than expected final qualifying session the top ten were split by just under a second and a half.

Pole sitter Verstappen said: "It feels good to be back on pole today. Testing was really good and then this weekend was a bit more tricky for us; it was difficult to get the balance of the car right due to the tricky conditions with the wind being quite strong.

"Heading into qualifying, no one knew where we all stood and it was very tight, but this is exciting for the sport. We made some good improvements on the car and also improved performance from FP3 to qualifying and in Q3 we had a little bit more grip.

"Ultimately, I am pleased with the performance of the car and was happy to be back competing again today. Looking to tomorrow, I have a good feeling and am confident ahead of the race.

"We know it is about looking after the tyres in the best way possible as anything can happen in the race.

"We have a good race car and hopefully we can show the same performance as we did today."

Pole position qualifier Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing climbs out of his car in parc ferme during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain - Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images

Outgoing Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz completes the second row as he starts in fourth while Red Bull's Sergio Perez starts in fifth with Fernando Alonso Aston Martin in sixth.

McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri took seventh and eighth as Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton will start his last Bahrain Grand Prix as a Silver Arrow in ninth and Haas' Nico Hulkenberg completed the top ten.

Newly named RB just missed out with Yuki Tsunoda in eleventh, Aston Martin's Lance Stroll in twelfth and Alex Albon's Williams in thirteenth.

Daniel Ricciardo' RB starts in fourteenth with Haas' Kevin Magnussen in fifteenth.

Another newly named team Kick Sauber's duo of Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu took sixteenth and seventeenth as Logan Sargeant's Williams beat Apline's Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly who start on the back row.

The first Grand Prix of the season starts at 3 pm GMT (15:00) on Saturday, March 2.

Bahrain Grand Prix Qualifying