The starting grid for the Sakhir Grand Prix

After a thrilling qualifying session, it's Valtteri Bottas who took pole position, the 16th of his career. The pilot Mercedes was scared since he was only 26 thousandths ahead of his weekend teammate George Russell and 56 Max Verstappen (Red Bull).

On his Ferrari, Charles Leclerc will start 4th. The Monegasque got the most out of his SF1000 in qualifying while Sebastian Vettel will only be 13th on the grid, far behind his teammate.

The battle for 3rd place among manufacturers should liven up the race this Sunday. Sergio Pérez (Racing Point) 5th, Daniel Ricciardo (Renault) 7th or even Carlos Sainz (McLaren) 8th should put up a good battle on this outdoor circuit of Sakhir. Ninth on the grid, Pierre Gasly (Alpha Tauri) should get involved in this fight just like his teammate Daniil Kvyat 6th.

Behind, Esteban Ocon (Renault) and Alex Albon (Red Bull) will have to increase the pace if they want to finish in the points at the checkered flag. Both men had poor qualifying and were only 11th and 12th on the grid.

On the beginners' side, the Sakhir Grand Prix promises to be complicated. Respectively 17th and 19th, Jack Aitken (Williams) and Pietro Fittipaldi (Haas) can't hope for much this Sunday. Initially 15th, Lando Norris will go to the back of the grid. The McLaren driver was forced to change his turbo as well as his internal combustion engine (ICE).

The starting grid of the Sakhir Grand Prix

• 1. v. Bottas (Mercedes)
  • 2. G. Russell (Mercedes)
• 3. Mr. Verstappen (Red Bull)
  • 4. C. Leclerc (Ferrari)
• 5. S. Pérez (Racing Point)
  • 6. D.Kvyat (Alpha Tauri)
• 7. D. Ricciardo (Renault)
  • 8. C. Sainz (McLaren)
• 9. P. Gasly (Alpha Tauri)
  • 10.L. Stroll (RacingPoint)
• 11. E.Ocon (Renault)
  • 12. A. Albon (Red Bull)
• 13. S. Vettel (Ferrari)
  • 14. A. Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo)
• 15.K. Magnussen (Haas)
  • 16.N. Latifs (Williams)
• 17. J. Aitken (Williams)
  • 18. K. R¨äikkönen (Alfa Romeo)
• 19. P. Fittipaldi (Haas)
  • 20. L. Norris (McLaren)