Max Verstappen has secured his first pole position of the 2023 season at the opening race in Bahrain.
Red Bull entered this weekend confident in their abilities after the winter break with Verstappen and Perez showing great pace during testing and Free Practice at the same location.
Max Verstappen will lead his teammate off the line on Sunday with a Red Bull one-two after an incredibly close-fought qualifying in the desert.
READ MORE: Friday, Bahrain: Here are the full results from FP1 and FP2 as Aston Martin impress
It was a good day for Ferrari who topped both Q1 and Q2 with Mercedes and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso also fighting out front before Verstappen left them in the dust in Q3.
The Dutchman’s fastest time was a tenth ahead of Charles Leclerc, before improving on his efforts yet again to clock a lap in 1:29.708 while Leclerc and Ferrari decided not to hit the track again – to save tyres for Sunday’s race.
Alonso, George Russell, and Lewis Hamilton also opted to remain in the pits during the final stages of qualifying after burning through their tyres earlier on in rush, and will therefore start tomorrow’s race from fifth, sixth, and seventh respectively.
Lance Stroll who returned to Formula 1 this weekend, having missed testing due to an injury, was eighth for Aston Martin when the clock ran out in Q3, who as spectators rave over a genuine four-car battle for top positions.
