Verstappen Takes Pole Position in Bahrain
Milton Keynes’ own Max Verstappen has secured his first pole position of the season. The Red Bull Racing driver achieved this feat at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Verstappen’s initial qualifying lap in Q1 set a blistering pace. His time of 1:36.477 placed him at the top of the timing charts. This performance put him ahead of notable competitors.
Challenging Qualifying Session
The competition was fierce, with drivers pushing their machinery to the limit. Verstappen’s teammate, Isack Hadjar, briefly held second place. However, the Ferraris of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc soon moved ahead of Hadjar.
Oscar Piastri from McLaren also posted a strong time, surpassing Hadjar’s effort. Both Red Bull drivers, Verstappen and Hadjar, successfully advanced to Q2 after just one timed run, conserving tyre wear.
In Q2, Verstappen demonstrated further pace, recording a 1:35.696 lap. This was a significant margin ahead of Hadjar, who was in sixth place. Several other drivers, including Leclerc, Hamilton, and Kimi Antonelli, were positioned between the two Red Bull cars.
Antonelli had a lap time deleted due to exceeding track limits. This adjustment moved Hadjar up to fifth place temporarily.
Grid Penalties Impact Starting Positions
For Hadjar, the focus shifted to navigating Q3 while managing a pre-existing penalty. He is set to incur a five-place grid drop for his next race. This penalty stems from the installation of his seventh new Internal Combustion Engine of the season.
The Sepang Circuit presented challenges with tyre degradation. Consequently, both Red Bull cars opted for a single timed lap in Q3 to preserve their tyres. Antonelli improved his position to second, pushing Hadjar back to sixth.
Despite these challenges, both Red Bulls comfortably qualified for the final phase. Verstappen’s first run in Q3 yielded a time of 1:35.250, placing him in provisional pole. Hadjar was third, 0.308 seconds behind his teammate.
Verstappen further lowered his own benchmark on his final lap, achieving a 1:35.130. This time proved unbeatable, securing the four-time World Champion’s maiden pole position of the current season.
Due to his grid penalty, Hadjar, who qualified third, will start the race from eighth position.
This story is based on reporting by MKFM. Read the original coverage: MKFM