We could frame the first report of 2024 in this way, with Max Verstappen taking pole position number 33 of his career. The Dutchman will start in front of everyone in the Bahrain GP, also thanks to the slipstream he exploited in the decisive attempt.
Ferrari can smile, with Charles Leclerc two-tenths behind Verstappen. Carlos Sainz was in fourth, just over three-tenths behind the poleman.
George Russell’s Mercedes slipped between the two reds, with Lewis Hamilton in difficulty only ninth.
Q1 marks the middle of the night at Alpine
The first qualifying of the season was claimed by Scuderia Ferrari. Carlos Sainz finished Q1 in first, half a tenth ahead of Lance Stroll, who set a strong lap late in the session.
The Spaniard was the only one not to get on track after the first attempt.
Q1 marked a tough moment for Alpine, who begin 2024 at the back of the field. It was also a double elimination for the two Saubers.
Valtteri Bottas and Lance Stroll finished in sixteenth and seventeenth position respectively. Logan Sargeant, eighteenth, was also eliminated.
Haas can breathe a sigh of relief at least for today, getting both cars into Q2.
Heart in mouth for Mercedes in Q2, Hulkenberg amazes
The second part of qualifying ended again with Ferrari on top, this time courtesy of Leclerc
Verstappen, two-tenths behind him, took advantage of a good slipstream from a Haas in the first sector in his best lap.
Third was Carlos Sainz, four-tenths behind the Monegasque. It was a heart-in-mouth Q2 for Mercedes, who only secured passage in Q3 in the dying moments.
A special mention must be made to a super Nico Hulkenberg, who made the top 10 once more.
Teammate Kevin Magnussen could not find the same speed, finishing in P15. Lance Stroll and Alexander Albon were also eliminated, alongside the two Racing Bulls.
Yuki Tsunoda will be especially frustrated, only missing out on progression by 0.007.
Verstappen restarts from pole, but the gaps are closer
The final verdict of qualifying in Bahrain rewards Max Verstappen, who picks up where he left off last year.
The Dutchman took his first pole position of 2024, with an advantage of just over two-tenths over Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari.
Verstappen took advantage of the perfect slipstream of Oscar Piastri’s McLaren at the start of the lap.
Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari was fourth, behind George Russell, who set a good lap, to the detriment of that of his teammate Lewis Hamilton, who was only ninth.
Sixth position wen to Fernando Alonso, who made only one attempt.
Max Verstappen will start from pole for the thirty-third time in his career, but the interbals behind him confirm a closer mix.
Author: Loris Preziosa
Translation: Jaden Diaz-Ndisang
