Max Verstappen flies in Bahrain, clinches first pole of the season

Max Verstappen secured pole position for the Bahrain Grand Prix in the closely contested first qualifying session of the 2024 season. The Red Bull driver clocked a time of 1m 29.179s during the second runs, finishing two-tenths ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and a tenth ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell.

Carlos Sainz claimed the fourth spot, making it two Ferraris in the top four, while Red Bull’s Sergio Perez secured fifth, trailing Verstappen by almost half a second in their decisive laps.

MAX VERSTAPPEN TAKES HIS 33RD POLE POSITION AT THE BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX !!!

What an incredible lap 👏 pic.twitter.com/5giYrxCFsk

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Verstappen fastest in Belgium Qualy, Leclerc starts first on Sunday

— RBR Daily (@RBR_Daily) March 1, 2024

Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso led the team’s performance in sixth place, followed by the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton settled for ninth in the second Mercedes, with Nico Hulkenberg completing the top 10 for Haas.

Yuki Tsunoda of Red Bull narrowly missed out on Q3 in 11th place, just seven hundredths slower than Piastri’s McLaren at the end of Q2. Lance Stroll in the other Aston Martin and Alex Albon in the lead Williams followed closely behind.