Gift to dad Jos: Verstappen races to pole

The 25-year-old Dutchman improved his own best time on the last lap of qualifying and will go into the opening Grand Prix on Sunday (16.00 p.m. CET) ahead of his teammate Sergio Perez. For Verstappen it was the 51st pole position of his career on his father's 21st birthday.

“I'm happy to be on pole,” said Max Verstappen, who dominated last season almost at will. “But it was a tough start to the weekend, I didn't find my rhythm today either.” But when he did discover it, the competition couldn't get past him.

Leclerc skeptical, Alonso strong Last year's winner Charles Leclerc raced to third place in a Ferrari. “We are still a bit behind in terms of race pace compared to Red Bull,” said the Monegasque, who stopped taking action at the end of qualifying in order to save a set of tires for the race.

Charles Leclerc came third. © ANSA / ALI HAIDER

Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso continued Aston Martin's upswing and finished fifth. His teammate Lance Stroll finished eighth. The Canadian's performance is remarkable. After a cycling accident, he missed the tests because he broke his right wrist and sprained his left. One operation and screw fixation later, he got into the car and fought his way to the third knockout round. Then Mama Claire-Anne clapped in the garage. “The car is not easy to drive.” Toto wolff Record world champion Lewis Hamilton couldn't get past seventh place with his stubborn Mercedes. “The car is not easy to drive. There is no reason to be euphoric because we are simply not fast enough,” Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff admitted before qualifying.

Leclerc triggers a red flag Red flags in the first knockout round: Leclerc's Ferrari lost small vehicle parts when it hit the asphalt. The unit was temporarily stopped to clear the rubble. “Let me know if everything is okay with the car,” radioed last year’s winner Leclerc to the pits. In the garage, the mechanics repaired the Monegasque's damaged company car.

As things went on, it initially even seemed as if Alonso could fight for one of the top three places. “He was at the back in no man’s land for ten years and now he’s fighting for top three positions again. “He’s a real gladiator who won’t let anything go wrong at the front,” said Nico Rosberg appreciatively of the 41-year-old oldie, who missed out on a place among the top three drivers.

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Gift to dad Jos: Verstappen races to pole

Double world champion Max Verstappen has set the first exclamation point for the new Formula 1 season just in time for his father Jos' birthday. The Red Bull driver raced to pole position at the Bahrain International Circuit on Saturday.

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