Max Verstappen converted Red Bull’s strong pre-season testing into pole position in qualifying as he pipped defending champion Lewis Hamilton ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix.
The Red Bull driver topped every session of the season-opening race weekend in Bahrain as he and Red Bull remain confident in taking the fight to Mercedes in 2021.
The Dutchman beat seven-time world champion Hamilton to the first pole position of the season in a last-lap shootout by 0.388s setting up what looks to be an enticing duel in the desert come Sunday afternoon.
It is only the fourth time that Verstappen has headed the field on a Saturday throughout his F1 career as he looks to convert his strong qualifying into a race victory.
Bottas’ issues
Valtteri Bottas struggled all weekend with the balance of his Mercedes’ car, claiming it was “undrivable” throughout practice. Despite his lack of confidence, the Finn finished qualifying in third over half a second off Verstappen’s pole time.
Charles Leclerc impressed the paddock yet again on a Saturday as he placed his Ferrari on the second row of the gird, two tenths ahead of AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly who made Q3 on the C3 Medium compound tyre.
Daniel Ricciardo had a strong outing as he out-qualified his teammate Lando Norris by just 0.047s as McLaren claimed sixth and seventh on tomorrow’s grid in their hunt to retain third in the Constructors’ Championship.
Carlos Sainz was eighth-fastest in the second Ferrari after he failed to improve on his second timed lap in Q3, two-time world champion Fernando Alonso followed as he outperformed his Alpine car in ninth.
Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll completed the top ten as the team look to be struggling with pace thus far in comparison to eight months ago.
Perez eliminated
New-recruitment Sergio Perez was the shock of qualifying as he was eliminated in Q2 after the Mexican opted to run the C3 Medium compound tyre after his first effort was deleted for a track limits infringement at Turn 4.
Perez did complete a timed lap on his second effort but as others improved, he started to fall down the pecking order before staying in 11th putting him out of qualifying.
Antonio Giovinazzi finished the session in 12th for Alfa Romeo who look to have made a step forward this season compared to 2020. Rookie Yuki Tsunoda failed to make Q3 after selecting the C3 Medium tyres despite being second-fastest behind Verstappen in Q1.
Nothing has changed for George Russell from 2020 to 2021 as the young brit continued his brilliant qualifying form in 15th position for Williams.
Esteban Ocon was the first of a host of cars to be affected by yellow flags throughout his final lap as the Frenchman failed to make Q2 for Alpine. Nicholas Latifi followed as he was unable to progress to the next part of qualifying unlike teammate Russell.
It was a poor session for Sebastian Vettel as he was only 18th on his qualifying debut for Aston Martin, the four-time world champion was caught out by yellow flags caused by both Sainz and Nikita Mazepin on his final lap.
Reigning Formula 2 champion Mick Schumacher outpaced his teammate Mazepin who spun twice throughout Q1 in their debut qualifying session in Formula 1.
