Verstappen grabs pole position in Bahrain GP qualifying

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen grabbed pole position for the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix as he edged out his teammate Sergio Perez and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in an enthralling qualifying.

Max Verstappen takes the first pole of 2023 in Bahrain!#BahrainGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/vZlHGDbbmr

— Formula 1 (@F1) March 4, 2023

World champion Verstappen’s time, a 1:29.708, was 0.138s clear of Red Bull’s teammate Sergio Perez.

Leclerc’s teammate Carlos Sainz was sent out for another lap, but could not topple the Monegasque’s time, and settled for fourth.

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Fernando Alonso was unable to create the headline start for Aston Martin and finished a very strong qualifying in P5, ahead of the Mercedes duo of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, and teammate Lance Stroll.

Alpine’s Esteban Ocon took P9 for Alpine, ahead of an impressive qualifying return for Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg, whose sole Q3 run was ended by a track limits violation.

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Here's how everyone crossed the line in our first qualiying session of the season!#BahrainGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/tUOEzkNvjW

— Formula 1 (@F1) March 4, 2023