F1 starts with exciting qualifying
Hulkenberg and Alonso shine at Verstappen’s gala
03/04/2023, 05:11 p.m
Formula 1 starts the 2023 season in Bahrain. After strong training, Fernando Alonso is even a pole candidate – and shines in the Aston Martin as a strong fourth. Returnee Nico Hülkenberg also made it into the top ten. World champion Max Verstappen set the best time in the Red Bull.
Double world champion Max Verstappen has set the first exclamation mark of the new Formula 1 season. The Red Bull driver raced to pole position on the Bahrain International Circuit. The 25-year-old Dutchman improved his own best time on the last round of qualifying and is ahead of his teammate Sergio Perez in the opening Grand Prix on Sunday (4 p.m. / Sky and in the live ticker on ntv.de). For Verstappen it is the 21st pole position of his career.
“I’m happy to be on pole,” said Verstappen, who had dominated last season almost at will. “But it was a tough start to the weekend, and I didn’t find my rhythm today either.” But when he discovered it, the competition couldn’t get past him. Last year’s winner Charles Leclerc came third in a Ferrari. “We’re still a bit behind in terms of race pace compared to Red Bull,” said the Monegasque, who did not intervene at the end of qualifying to save a set of tires for the race.
Formula 1 returnee Nico Hülkenberg showed an excellent starting position in the Haas in tenth place. With a fast last lap, the Rhinelander avoided retirement in sixth place on the first lap – in contrast to his teammate Kevin Magnussen. The Dane missed out on being 17th. Hulkenberg then proved that he had no problems adjusting to his new team and secured a top ten finish. “I thought I could do it in Q3. But Sunday is the endurance test. We’ll see where we stand,” he said on Sky.
The Mercedes is “not easy to drive”
Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso continued the Aston Martin surge to finish fifth. His teammate Lance Stroll raced into eighth place. The Canadian’s performance is impressive. After a cycling accident, he missed testing because he fractured his right wrist and sprained his left. An operation including screwing later, however, he sat in the car and fought his way into Q3, the decisive qualifying section.
Record world champion Lewis Hamilton did not get past seventh place with his stubborn Mercedes. “The car is not easy to drive. There is no reason to be euphoric because we are simply not fast enough,” Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff admitted before qualifying.
There were red flags right away in the first knockout round: Leclerc’s Ferrari lost smaller vehicle parts when it touched down on the asphalt. In order to clear away the rubble, the unit was temporarily stopped. “Let me know if everything is okay with the car,” radioed last year’s winner Leclerc to the pits. In the garage, the mechanics repaired the Monegasque’s damaged company car.
As things went on, it even seemed at first as if Alonso could fight for one of the top three places. “He was in no man’s land for ten years and now he’s fighting for top three positions again. He’s a real gladiator who won’t let anything burn in front,” said Sky expert Nico Rosberg appreciatively of the 41-year-old oldie, but he missed out on a place in the top three drivers.