Sakhir (Bahrain) (AFP)
Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull-Honda) will start from pole position in the Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday, ahead of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), in the first round of the season.
Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) and Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) will start on the second row of the grid, on the Sakhir circuit, while the French Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri) completes the Top 5 of qualifying.
The perfect weekend therefore continues for Verstappen: the 23-year-old Dutchman, third in the last two world championships, had dominated the three free practice sessions on Friday and Saturday, each time ahead of Hamilton's Mercedes.
Last year, he waited until the last race, in Abu Dhabi in December, to take pole.
What to hope for a match played with Mercedes, ultra-dominant team since 2014, Sunday after sunset at 6:00 p.m. local (3:00 p.m. GMT, 5:00 p.m. French).
The Australian Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren rookie, will accompany Gasly in the third row.
He will be followed by his British teammate Lando Norris and Spaniard Carlos Sainz, who left McLaren for Ferrari this winter.
Fernando Alonso, in his Alpine (Renault's new name), will start 9th for his return to F1, at 39, after two years of absence.
Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) completes the Top 10.
The only downside for Red Bull, its Mexican rookie Sergio Pérez will start only 11th.
© 2021 AFP