Max Verstappen took F1 Bahrain GP pole with Sergio Perez in second in a Red Bull 1-2, while Charles Leclerc ended up third.

Q1:

The first part in F1 2023 qualifying in Bahrain GP was red-flagged within five minutes of running due to debris on track shed by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc who were on the medium tyres alongside teammate Carlos Sainz.

It was all to play for upon re-start where Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll had his lap time deleted due to track limits. At the front, Ferrari’s Sainz led the way with a 1m30.933s from Mercedes’ George Russell, with the two separated by 0.064s.

The other Ferrari of Leclerc was third as Williams’ Logan Sargeant missed out on Q2 on debut despite matching to McLaren’s Lando Norris’ time of 1m31.652s. He was 16th from Haas’ Kevin Magnussen (1m31.892s) and other McLaren of Oscar Piastri (1m32.101s).

AlphaTauri’s Nyck de Vries (1m32.121s) was 19th with Alpine’s Pierre Gasly (1m32.181s) 20th after the Frenchman’s lap time was deleted due to track limits. Even if it was not deleted, he wouldn’t have made it in Q2 with his time.

Q2:

The second part in the F1 Bahrain GP saw Red Bull pair lead the way on new tyres for his first run with Max Verstappen setting a 1m30.503s lap from Sergio Perez and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton. The Ferrari pair had their first run on the used set.

In fact, Red Bull didn’t venture out the second time which allowed Ferrari’s Leclerc to go fastest with a 1m30.282s from Verstappen, with Mercedes’ Russell in third from his teammate Lewis Hamilton, Sainz and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso.

His teammate Stroll almost made it in 10th after missing the weighbridge. His late last lap pushed McLaren’s Norris to 11th with a 1m31.381s lap. He headed the Alfa Romeo pair of Valtteri Bottas (1m31.443s) and Zhou Guanyu (1m31.473s).

AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda (1m32.510s) was 14th as Williams’ Alexander Albon didn’t set a representative time but is likely to be allowed to start with his practice time. He had a moment where he went off with all four wheels which left him with no choice.

Q3:

The final part in F1 Bahrain GP qualifying saw Red Bull’s Verstappen take provisional pole with a 1m29.897s lap from Ferrari’s Leclerc who set a 1m30.000s with Red Bull’s Sergio Perez in third from Ferrari’s Sainz and Aston Martin’s Stroll.

The rest of them left it on one lap where Leclerc did not venture out in a surprise as Verstappen improved further to a 1m29.708s lap and take F1 pole in Bahrain GP to start the 2023 season where Perez’s 1m29.846s lap had him complete a Red Bull 1-2.

Leclerc was third from Sainz who improved to a 1m30.154s lap, as Aston Martin’s Alonso (1m30.336s) was fifth where he managed to beat both the Mercedes cars with Russell (1m30.340s) in sixth ahead of Hamilton (1m30.384s).

With a broken wrist, Stroll (1m30.836s) was eighth from Alpine’s Esteban Ocon (1m30.984s), with Haas’ Nico Hulkenberg in 10th after his lap was deleted for track limits.

 

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