Leclerc on pole in Bahrain ahead of Verstappen, Mercedes in the tough

We will have to count on Ferrari This year ! The good performances seen during winter testing were confirmed this Saturday during qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix where Charles Leclerc took the first pole position of the season, 10^e of her career.

The anticipated three-way duel between the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, And the Red Bull de Max Verstappen kept all its promises on the Sakhir track. While the latter seemed the big favorite after dominating Q2, it was the Reds who had the last word in these qualifications.

The first stint of Q3 immediately set the pace with Carlos Sainz in the lead after a very good run in 1'30″687. The Spaniard could then begin to dream of his first career pole position but he had to rely on his garage neighbor and exercise specialist, Charles Leclerc. Equipped with a new set of soft tires, the Monegasque, only 44 thousandths ahead at the end of his first attempt, would make everyone agree by improving his personal mark by almost 2 tenths!

On the line, Charles Leclerc's time showed a time of 1'30"558 while waiting for Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz to complete their effort. Unfortunately for the latter, the Scuderia driver would preserve his property thus winning the first pole position of the brand new era of the F1. A great way to kick off the season and that of Ferrari, which is regaining color after two difficult last campaigns.

The pole for @Charles_Leclerc 👏

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Bad luck for Mercedes

If Scuderia Ferrari has taken a step forward, Mercedes for its part still seems to suffer with the new technical regulations. The figures at the end of this Q3 speak for themselves. In fact, you have to go down to the 5th row to find a trace of a Silver Arrow, that of Lewis Hamilton as it happens. A detail to which we are little accustomed, if at all, since 2014 and the hybrid era. Brackley's W13s are a notch below his rivals and the Englishman finished almost 7 tenths behind Charles Leclerc! For his 2nd qualifying session with Mercedes after that of Sakhir in 2020, George Russell did little better. The Briton settled for a discreet 9th place, 1″6 from pole!

The beautiful notes return to Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo) and Kevin Magnussen (Haas), both present in the Top 10. The Finn and the Dane even impressed by setting the 6th and 7th times respectively in these qualifications. Note that this is the first Q3 for Haas since the 2019 Brazilian Grand Prix! Showing that the American team has clearly progressed after having demonstrated its survival in 2021 with a car without the slightest development from the first to the 22nd and last Grand Prix of the season in Abu Dhabi.

Alpine mixed, McLaren far behind

On the French side, these qualifications were rather lively. At the house of Alpine, only Fernando Alonso was able to get out of Q2 before setting the 8th fastest time a few moments later in Q3, showing that he still has as much panache. His teammate Esteban Ocon did not suffer the same fate. Not boarding the new pontoons on the A522, the Norman saw his efforts cut short in Q2 by another man from his land, Pierre Gasly (Alpha Tauri).

So 10th under the checkerboard in Q2, the representative ofAlpine saw his compatriot improve his mark and thus expel him from the 10 qualifying places. Eliminated at the gates of Q3, Esteban Ocon will start 11th just behind Pierre Gasly and ahead of a Mick Schumacher (Haas) in rather good shape with its VF22.

At McLaren, the recent difficulties of the MCL36 were confirmed by Daniel Ricciardo et Lando Norris this Saturday on the track. Absent from the last winter tests and obviously lacking in driving, the Australian did no better than 18th, taking the door in Q1! His teammate limited the damage for the Woking team but was unable to go beyond Q2 with only the 13th fastest time.

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