Max Verstappen took his first pole of the season, the Ferraris became competitive again and Kimi Antonelli confirmed a determination inversely proportional to his age. These are the key points that emerged from qualifying for the Bahrain GP, which due to tensions in the Gulf is being held in Malaysia, where heat and humidity dominate. More opponents for the Formula 1 drivers, who had not attended the Sepang circuit for years where the fight for pole was close until the last moment, when Lewis Hamilton managed to place himself on the front row, three tenths of a time from Verstappen's pole, who did his best to make an already lively Red Bull shine even more.
"The car was going very well after the many changes made before qualifying - said Hamilton, whose last start on the front row dates back to the Catalan GP in June - and then the execution was also truly impeccable. Tomorrow will be a very different challenge, with tire management probably having a decisive role but it is always positive to start from the front row". The Brit found the right lap on the last attempt, displacing the other Red Bull, owned by Isack Hadjar, from the front row, who will also move from third to eighth at the start due to the replacement of some engine components. A relegation that partly favored Antonelli, author of the fourth time, but above all Charles Leclerc, who advanced to the second row.
For the Reds, who came out of qualifying well this time, it will be an important opportunity to get back onto a podium, something that hasn't happened since last July. "Fourth is not a bad position to start from - the Monegasque commented -, even if my qualifying wasn't very brilliant, especially in Q3. Tire management and strategy will be fundamental in the race: we'll see what we can bring home". Antonelli exceeded track limits in Q2 and for this reason he only had one good lap available in the decisive phase of qualifying.
"It was a shame because I found myself under pressure, whereas with a normal qualifying we could have aspired to finish second or third, given that Verstappen was too fast for us - said the world championship leader -. We struggled with the balance, then the track with the asphalt was so worn and such heat certainly didn't help. Red Bull and Ferrari are very fast, I will try to get a good start and the best race possible". Antonelli will have to watch his back, given that in the third row there will be the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, also a big obstacle for George Russell, who from seventh place will have to work hard to try to nibble away some points from the Italian. Verstappen, sixth in the world championship, has no ranking aspirations, but he finally has the opportunity to get his first victory of the season and it will be a challenge to try to stop him. "It's fantastic - said the Dutchman -. We've been trying for many Grands Prix to get a pole and so to finally do it is truly incredible. I'm happy and I'll try to win the race".
The starting grid
Starting grid for the Bahrain GP, the 16th round of the Formula 1 World Championship, scheduled for tomorrow on the Sepang circuit in Malaysia.
Front row Max Verstappen (Ola/Red Bull) Lewis Hamilton (GB/Ferrari)
second row Kimi Antonelli (Ita/Mercedes) Charles Leclerc (Mon/Ferrari)
third row Lando Norris (GB/McLaren) Oscar Piastri (Aus/McLaren)
fourth row George Russell (GB/Mercedes) Isack Hadjar (Fra/Red Bull) *
fifth row Pierre Gasly (Fra/Alpine) Gabriel Bortoleto (Bra/Audi)
sixth row Liam Lawson (Nzl/Racing Bulls) Fernando Alonso (Spa/Aston Martin)
seventh row Carlos Sainz (Spa/Williams) Lance Stroll (Can/Aston Martin)
eighth row Nico Huelkenberg (Ger/Audi) Oliver Bearman (Gb/Haas)
ninth row Esteban Ocon (Fra/Haas) Alexander Albon (Tha/Williams)
tenth row Valtteri Bottas (Fin/Cadillac) Sergio Perez (Mes/Cadillac)
eleventh row Franco Colapinto (Arg/Alpine) Arvid Lindblad (GB/Racing Bulls).
* Hadjar penalized five places for replacing some engine elements.
