Sakhir, Bahrain — Reigning Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen secured pole position on Friday for the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, setting the stage for an exciting race weekend. Verstappen, who has clinched the title for the past three seasons, showcased his speed by edging out Charles Leclerc of Ferrari by .228 seconds in qualifying. George Russell of Mercedes took third place, with Carlos Sainz Jr. of Ferrari in fourth. Sergio Perez, Verstappen’s teammate at Red Bull, claimed the fifth spot on the grid.
Despite Verstappen’s dominance last season, where he clinched victory in 19 out of 22 races, the tight qualifying times reveal that competitors may have made strides to challenge Red Bull this year. Leclerc’s impressive performance in the second qualifying session indicated a potential threat to Verstappen’s supremacy.
In a post-qualifying interview, Leclerc acknowledged Red Bull’s strength in the race but expressed confidence in Ferrari’s progress. Russell, on the other hand, praised Verstappen’s performance, hinting that the Dutch driver remains a cut above the rest.
As the excitement builds for the Bahrain Grand Prix, the focus has been diverted to an ongoing investigation involving Red Bull team principal Christian Horner. Despite recent allegations against Horner, the team continues to prepare for the race weekend.
The Bahrain Grand Prix takes place on Saturday due to scheduling adjustments to accommodate the upcoming race in Saudi Arabia. The rules mandate a full week between races, prompting the change in timing. Stay updated on all the latest auto racing news with AP’s dedicated coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing.
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