formula 1
Verstappen races to pole in Bahrain – Hülkenberg tenth
Securing pole position for the season opener in Bahrain: Max Verstappen. photo
© Darko Bandic/AP
It is the 33rd of his Formula 1 career: defending champion Max Verstappen takes pole position for the first race of the season. And he’s a little surprised himself.
He is unimpressed by the headlines surrounding his team boss Max Verstappen secured pole position for the start of his fourth Formula 1 title race. The 26-year-old Dutchman raced to first place in Sakhir in qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix and commented on it over the radio with a hearty laugh.
“It was pretty fun. But it was a bit unexpected,” said Verstappen with a mischievous smile. After turbulent days for the world champion team and an initially slightly weak champion, it was the perfect sporting start to this season.
Second starting place for the race this Saturday (4 p.m. CET/Sky and RTL) due to the upcoming Islamic fasting month of Ramadan was taken by Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari ahead of George Russell in the Mercedes. Carlos Sainz finished fourth in the Scuderia’s second car. Record world champion Lewis Hamilton, for whom Sainz has to vacate his Ferrari cockpit after the season, did not get past ninth place – one place ahead of the surprisingly strong Nico Hülkenberg in the Haas.
Wolff on the Horner case: “Of course it annoys everyone”
After constant headlines and anonymous emails from Red Bull’s team boss Christian Horner, Formula 1 switched to knockout mode for the first time this year on the cool evening in the Sakhir desert. “The time has come that we have to concentrate on racing,” Mercedes motorsport director Toto Wolff told Sky broadcaster: “Of course it annoys everyone, but at some point you have to switch it off.”
The matter is far from over, even though an employee’s complaint against Horner for inappropriate behavior was dismissed by the Red Bull parent company on Wednesday. After the emails appear, a reaction from the world association and Formula 1 bosses is expected.
Verstappen’s initial difficulties in Bahrain with the new RB20 probably have nothing to do with the matter surrounding his boss. No best time in the three training sessions before qualifying, but the champion of the past three years kept complaining about the car.
“I wouldn’t say we’re weak. We’re not as confident as we were in the test,” said Red Bull’s motorsport consultant Helmut Marko. The low temperatures – just 18 degrees outside and the wind affects them more than the others. That’s never a good sign.
Verstappen secures 33rd pole of his career
It quickly became apparent that things might be close. In the first period, Verstappen ended up in third place, 0.122 seconds behind Sainz. In between, Lance Stroll made it in the Aston Martin. But was it all just a bluff by Verstappen up to that point?
Suddenly Verstappen was ahead by over half a second in the middle section. With a magic lap, Leclerc moved in front of him. What was particularly surprising in the second period was Hülkenberg, who, in contrast to teammate Kevin Magnussen, entered the fight for the top ten in sixth place.
So another twelve minutes, no more poker, no more bluffing. First attempt: Verstappen on one. It was as if he had waited until things got serious. Because he couldn’t miss the pole position, the 33rd of his career. “The race will be close, but I’m confident,” he said.