Performance in tests and practice sessions was not a flash in the pan: the F1-75 is a Ferrari that will be able to give Red Bull and Mercedes a hard time in the 2022 Formula 1 World Championship, as demonstrated by the first seasonal qualifying on the circuit. of Sahkir in Bahrain.
Charles Leclerc took pole position with authority, ahead of world champion Max Verstappen, while Carlos Sainz's other Red missed the front row by a few thousandths with Sergio Perez's Red Bull behind him.
Fifth place and third row for Lewis Hamilton in a Mercedes who confirmed that he still needs a thorough tuning.
Curiously, the British will have Valtteri Bottas alongside him, as so many times in the past, but now he is at the wheel of the Alfa Romeo, very handsome thanks to the Ferrari engine.
THE STARTING GRID
The Prancing Horse is ambitious and the result of qualifying seems to satisfy the great desire for revenge of the team and the fans after the many toads swallowed in recent seasons.
Leclerc, above all, but also Sainz showed in all three sessions that they had the right car in their hands to aim both for the front row.
In the end, only the Monegasque - the last to take pole with the Reds last season in Baku - managed, because Verstappen managed to snatch Sainz's place by a handful of thousandths.
"I am very happy with the result in a complicated session - Leclerc said hotly -. The last two years have been very difficult for the team but we knew that the new rules would be an opportunity for us."
"I think Charles deserved it, the pole - said Sainz -,
in the end he was able to file that extra tenth but I'm satisfied too. "The wait for tomorrow's race becomes almost spasmodic, but the Ferrari drivers keep their feet on the ground:" We must try to end the weekend with a sharp - the words of Leclerc -.
Tomorrow with the tires will not be easy, due to the heat and the increase in weight of the cars.
Caution must be maintained.
The pace is there but the race is long, anything can happen. "Lurking is a fighter like Verstappen, who after having lost the pole will not be willing to do the same in the first race of # 1." The car is good especially in the race, we believe, and this is the most important thing - said the Dutch -.
They did a great job at Ferrari and we hope it will be an exciting race. "
Yesterday Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto said he was not signing up for a second place at his seasonal debut.
After what we have seen, he could be right, even if for the moment he enjoys the qualification.
"Today is a good award and a good starting point - he said -. The whole package behaves well -. We are happy but tomorrow we turn the page, it will be a different situation. Let's remember where we were last year or two years ago" .