World champion Max Verstappen will start from first place on the grid in the first race of the new Formula 1 season. The Dutchman from Red Bull was 0.228 seconds ahead of Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) and secured the 33rd pole position of his career.
Record world champion Lewis Hamilton had a disappointing start to the afternoon and will only start the Bahrain Grand Prix from ninth place. The German Nico Hülkenberg is racing for Haas again this year and showed an impressive performance in qualifying.