Surprises on all floors!
The first qualifying session of the year was thrilling, and there are many lessons to be learned.
First of all: no, Mercedes did not simulate its difficulties in testing.
Leading the three free practice sessions, Max Verstappen was untouchable in qualifying.
The Dutchman and his Red Bull Honda pushed back Hamilton, second, to nearly four tenths (+ 0.388 ′ '), and Bottas, third, to more than half a second (+ 0.589 ′').
“The car performs well on both short and long stints, I'm looking forward to the race,” Verstappen smiled as soon as he got out of his car.
His new teammate, Sergio Perez, failed in 11th place.
That's POLE for @ Max33Verstappen !!!
🔥 Starting the season as we mean to go on 💪 #BahrainGP 🇧🇭 #ChargeOn 🤘 pic.twitter.com/8laGro7odT
- Red Bull Racing Honda (@redbullracing) March 27, 2021
Equally surprising - and reassuring for the suspense of this season - the Ferraris have posted a much better level than last season.
Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz easily reached Q3 (the ten best times), and Leclerc posted the fourth fastest time of the evening, less than a tenth behind Bottas (+ 0.681 ′ ').
Sainz, yet ahead of the Monegasque throughout the weekend, missed out at the end of the session to finish in eighth place (+ 1.218 ′ ').
Gasly well placed, unlucky Ocon
Fifth (+ 0.812 ′ '), Pierre Gasly will have a great opportunity to finish the race ahead of Leclerc.
The Frenchman has indeed pulled off a daring blow.
Sure of his strength, the Normand went into Q3 with yellow tires, slower than the reds (the softer compounds).
This means that the AlphaTauri rider will set off with the yellow tires, which are harder and more enduring, this Sunday in the race.
CLASSIFICATION: END OF QUALIFYING ⏱️
A dream weekend continues for @ Max33Verstappen as he powers to pole 🚀 # BahrainGP 🇧🇭 # F1 pic.twitter.com/g9UABr1EK2
- Formula 1 (@ F1) March 27, 2021
More expected this time, Haas and Williams encountered great difficulties.
For his first Grand Prix, the German prodigy Mick Schumacher will start from the penultimate place.
But two surprises were to be noted at the end of the first qualifying session (Q1): Sebastian Vettel, new leader of the Aston Martin team (ex Racing Point), failed very far from the score, in 18th place.
Two positions ahead of the quadruple world champion, the French Esteban Ocon also disappointed.
Blame it on a yellow flag, caused by the extinction of Carlos Sainz's engine in the second sector of the Sakhir track.
"It's an unfortunate combination of circumstances," analyzed the Alpine pilot at the microphone of Canal +.
I suffered the yellow flag at turn 8, I couldn't accelerate fully, I had to respect the rule.
It makes me lose half a second, which we lack to go to Q2.
I'm very disappointed, I've been grabbing this little yellow flag for a few sessions.
“No fatalism, however, because Alpine reassured after disappointing tests.
Double world champion Fernando Alonso climbed to ninth place (+ 1,252 ′ ').
The race promises to be thrilling, both at the front and at the back of the peloton.
