Red Bull continues where it left off last year. Verstappen’s dominant performance dominated the first qualifying session of the 2023 season

Formula 1 had its first qualifying session of the 2023 season on Saturday. For the first time this year, teams showed their full strength in a battle for pole position under the lights at the Bahrain circuit in Sakhir. As expected, Max Verstappen will take the top spot at the start. Ferrari have put in a great performance, with their second row monoposts starting the race. Alonso took a great fifth place for Aston Martin.

Q1

Less than five minutes into the first part of qualifying and already the red flags have been raised. They were caused by carbon fragments flying off Charles Leclerc’s car. They were left on the track in the exact spot where they needed to be removed.

In all three practice sessions, the Red Bull drivers and Fernando Alonso in the Aston Martin dictated the pace. It was therefore very surprising to see the names of Sainz, Russell and Leclerc shining on the scoreboard in the top three places after the first quick attempts.

At the tail of the field, McLaren was languishing. Norris was less than four tenths of a second behind to advance to Q2. Only newcomers Piastri and Sargeant set worse times.

Norris, on his second attempt, was just above the last five. Logan Sargeant also set an identical time, but as he recorded it later, he finished a non-advancing 16th in qualifying behind the British driver.

Kevin Magnussen and Pierre Gasly also had unsuccessful qualifying sessions. Both riders lost almost 7 tenths to their teammates. The Danish Haas driver will line up in 17th place on Sunday. Gasly will start his first race in Alpine from last position.

Next to Gasly, Nyck de Vries will take the start. Oscar Piastri said goodbye to his first qualifying session in Formula One earlier than he would have liked. The Australian youngster will start the Grand Prix from 18th place.

Q2

Red Bull upped the pace at the start of Q2. Verstappen’s time of 1:30.503 bettered Leclerc’s time from last year, which secured him pole position. Pérez came closest with a time 243 thousandths slower.

The first attempt was unsuccessful for Stroll, who missed pre-season testing due to a wrist injury. He was almost two seconds behind Verstappen and was only 12th. With his second attempt, he just barely squeezed into the third qualifying session.

Albon attempted just one fast lap at Williams. However, he went off the track in turn four due to understeer and did not record any time in the second qualifying session. He will start Sunday’s race from 15th place.

Red Bull was the only team that decided not to send its drivers out for a second attempt. Verstappen’s time was beaten only by Charles Leclerc, by more than 2 tenths.

An amazing performance by Nico Hülkenberg. His time was only half a second slower than Leclerc’s, comfortably enough to qualify third. Norris, Bottas, Chou, Cunoda and Albon took the non-advancing positions in the second qualifying.

Q3

In a direct battle for pole position, Red Bull proved why it is this year’s favourite. Verstappen didn’t give anyone a chance, and with a time of 1:29.708 he will start the Bahrain VC from first place. Pérez will complete the front row in the second Red Bull.

The second row will be red at the start. Monaco’s Leclerc will take third place on the grid ahead of Sainz.

Ferrari have made an interesting strategic move with Leclerc. The team did not send their driver out on his second attempt so that he could start the race on new tyres.

Aston Martin may have expected a little more from qualifying. Stroll talked about his chances of pole position after practice, but would have to settle for eighth. Alonso will start from fifth ahead of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton. Esteban Ocon and Hülkenberg occupy the last row of the top ten.

Source