After not being among the first places in free practice, this Friday Max Verstappen stepped on the accelerator to take the first pole position of the 2024 Formula 1 season ensuring to start in first place on the grid in the Bahrain Grand Prix this Saturday.
The current F1 world champion achieved a time of 1:29.179, the best of the classification that took place this Friday at the Bahrain International Circuit and in which he was followed by the driver of the Ferrari team, Charles Leclerc (1:29.407 ) and Mercedes’ George Russell (1:29.485).
“With the wind we couldn’t improve completely, but in qualifying we took that step we needed”acknowledged the Dutchman, the main figure of the Red Bull team, which had its other representative, the Mexican Sergio “Checo” Pérez with the fifth best time of the session (1:29.537).
The surprise of the classification came from the experienced Spaniard Fernando Alonso, who at the helm of his Aston Martin, finished with a time of 1:29.542 to take sixth place on the starting grid this Saturday. Also Spanish, but from Ferrari, Carlos Sainz Jr. was fourth (1:29.507).
“It’s been nice to see the progress we’ve made. I was really looking forward to and curious to see the first classification because we are all already in the same conditions and it has been an incredible surprise to be competitive. Let’s see if tomorrow (Saturday) we confirm it.”Fernando Alonso assured the Dazn channel.
For its part, The day was not entirely positive for the British driver Lewis Hamiltonwho begins what will be his last season with the Mercedes team and closed in ninth place in the standings after finishing the session with a time of 1:29.710.
The performance of the seven-time Formula 1 champion contrasted with what was shown during free practice in which he achieved the best time during the second day of testing prior to this Friday’s classification.
Another of the big surprises of the day came from Nico Hulkenberg, from the Haas team, by closing the top 10 with a time of 1:30.502. For their part, those eliminated in Q2 were Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo (Visa Cash App RB), Lance Stroll (Aston Martin), Alex Albon (Williams) and Kevin Magnussen (Haas).
Previously, Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu of the Sauber team, Logan Sargeant of Williams and Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly of Alpine had been left out in Q1.
The Bahrain Grand Prix will be held this Saturday and not on Sunday as is customary in Formula 1 because it coincides with Ramadan, an Islamic celebration of vital importance within the Arab world.
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