The second row goes to their Spanish teammates Carlos Sainz Jr (Ferrari) and Mexican Sergio Pérez (Red Bull), the first three standing in just 129/1000!

The seven-time British world champion Lewis Hamilton, struggling aboard a Mercedes in need of performance and bouncing a lot on the straights, qualified in fifth place only, at 680/1000.

Ironically, he will start on the Sakhir circuit on Sunday at 6:00 p.m. local (4:00 p.m. French), at nightfall, alongside his former Finnish teammate Valtteri Bottas, now with Alfa Romeo.

This will be followed by Dane Kevin Magnussen (Haas), who is impressing on his return to F1 after a year's absence, Spaniard Fernando Alonso (Alpine), British Mercedes rookie George Russell and Frenchman Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri) for the Top 10. The second French Esteban Ocon (Alpine) is 11th.

Overtaking less difficult

At Aston Martin, the German Nico Hülkenberg replaces at short notice his compatriot Sebastian Vettel, positive for Covid-19.

The one who has not driven since October 2020 is 17th and better placed than his Canadian teammate Lance Stroll, 19th!

Dutchman Max Verstappen (g) and Spaniard Carlos Sainz Jr after qualifying for the Bahrain GP on March 19, 2022 at Sakhir Giuseppe CACACE POOL/AFP

Australian Daniel Ricciardo, 18th, is making a difficult return to McLaren after missing winter testing last week in Bahrain for the same reason.

The 2022 season must be revolutionary, with completely different single-seaters, whose aerodynamic downforce is no longer created by very elaborate fins and numerous appendages on the chassis, but by the ground effect, comparable to a suction cup effect under the car. .

In view of these first qualifications, this change, which was to narrow the gaps between the teams, has partly modified the balance of forces.

It is also supposed to allow the single-seaters to follow each other and therefore to overtake each other less easily in the race.

“I saw some benefits during the (pre-season) tests but we will have to see in the race how close we can get,” said Leclerc at a press conference on Friday.

Another specificity this year, the drivers qualified in the first ten positions can now freely choose their starting tires, like those who follow them (this choice was previously constrained by those made in qualifying).

"It's much fairer for everyone to start the race with the same opportunities," Sainz said.

Charles Leclerc aboard his Ferrari during qualifying for the Bahrain GP, ​​March 19, 2022 at Sakhir OZAN KOSE AFP

Turning the page on Abu Dhabi

Off track, the World Motor Sport Council released the conclusions of its report on the final laps of the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP on Saturday, which crowned Verstappen ahead of Hamilton in controversial conditions.

Recalling the preference on the part of all those involved in F1 to see the races finished normally rather than behind the safety car, he concludes that Michael Masi, the since dismissed race director, acted "in good faith" and " to the best of his knowledge in difficult circumstances", with little time to decide and "an immense pressure applied by the teams".

Mexican Sergio Pérez's Red Bull during qualifying for the Bahrain GP, ​​March 19, 2022 at Sakhir Giuseppe CACACE POOL/AFP

However, a "human error" was identified in the count of delayed cars behind the safety car.

The procedure was therefore automated by software.

For Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, the time has come "to turn the page".

"After the World Motor Sport Council met and published the investigation, it is in no one's interest and not ours to continue the discussion," he told reporters. a few hours before the formalization of this report.

© 2022 AFP