The Dutch driver Max Verstappen (Red Bull) achieved his first ‘pole position’ in the Formula 1 World Championship this Saturday, being the fastest in qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix, the first of the 23 races of the season .
The two-time world champion set his best lap in 1.29.708 minutes, leaving the Mexican Sérgio Pérez (Red Bull) in second position, 0.138 seconds behind. Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) was third, 0.292 seconds behind.
The Ferrari driver opted to make just one run in the final of three qualifying stages, Q3, to save a set of soft tires for Sunday’s race.
“In the race we felt some difficulties, but the new tires will help,” explained Leclerc.
Ferrari have struggled with higher tire degradation than Red Bull, a factor that could prove decisive in the race.
Sérgio Pérez admitted that the “balance of the car” was not the best, but the team’s priority was to have the best set-up for the race.
“It was a very close qualifying. I wasn’t entirely comfortable with the balance of the car. We have one more car for Sundays.” [de corrida]”He explained at the end.
Max Verstappen, who set the 20th pole position of his career and on the 51st birthday of his father, former driver Jos Verstappen, was “surprised” at having been the fastest in the session.
“The weekend has been difficult, but luckily in qualifying we managed to put everything together. Compared to last year, everyone knows better what to do with the car. Everyone is improving their performance,” said Verstappen.
Spaniard Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) took fourth place, with 0.446 seconds, followed soon by his compatriot Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), who was 0.628 behind the fastest.
Mercedes, which managed to resolve the vibration problems that plagued its car last year, found itself outclassed by Aston Martin in terms of performance.
Britain’s George Russell was sixth, with 0.632 seconds, followed by his teammate and compatriot, Lewis Hamilton, with 0.676.
The other Aston Martin, owned by Canadian Lance Stroll, was eighth, confirming that there are four teams in the running for podium spots in the race.
Frenchman Esteban Ocon (Alpine) and German Nico Hulkenberg (Haas) completed the top 10 fastest.
Qualifying was also marked by a red flag situation. [interrupção da sessão]due to parts breaking on the floor of Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari.
The Bahrain GP is the first race of the 2023 Formula 1 World Championship.
Source: TSF
