Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull) took the first pole position of the season in Formula 1 on Friday at the Sakhir circuit in Bahrain, ahead of Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari). The second row goes to the Briton George Russell (Mercedes) and the Spaniard Carlos Sainz (Ferrari), the two holding just 22/1000th.
The first two races of the season will take place on Saturday
“To be honest, [cette pole] was a little unexpected”, admitted “Mad Max”, remaining discreet during free practice. “We needed to refine certain things on the car to have the perfect balance”, he explained on the eve of the first race of the year which he already expects to be “close”. With an RB20 with an innovative aerodynamic concept, Red Bull and its star are once again the big favorites for this season, with a record number of events on the calendar with 24 Grand Prix .
By placing its drivers on the first two rows of the grid, the Scuderia confirms its good form observed during winter testing at the end of February. “Convinced” that Ferrari has taken “a step forward” for the Bahrain Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc nevertheless tempers: “we really think that Red Bull still has a good head start in the race”. The other Red Bull, that of the Mexican Sergio Pérez, will start 5th in the Grand Prix, the start of which will be given on Saturday, at night, at 4:00 p.m. French time.
For the first two Grand Prix of the season, in Bahrain then in Saudi Arabia, the traditional Sunday race was moved to Saturday, a rare schedule in F1 in order to adapt to Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting which begins on March 11 . The Spaniard Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), third in the GP last year on the Sakhir track, will start in 6th position, ahead of the two McLarens of Briton Lando Norris and Australian Oscar Piastri. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) and German Nico Hulkenberg (Haas) complete the Top 10.