Red Bull looks to pick up exactly where they left off as Max Verstappen finished first in the Bahrain Qualifiers, with a time of 1:29:179 that gives him the first opportunity towards Turn 1.
Sergio Perez was not far behind and will line up on the third row in P5.
Ferrari looks like a team that can potentially challenge Red Bull, with Charles Leclerc just two tenths behind Verstappen. The Monegasque landed at P2 while setting a single lap record with the new regulations in Q2. Carlos Sainz had some really fine laps as well but will be just behind his teammate at the start in P4.
Mercedes had the pace to beat in Free Practice 2 but it was a different story in Qualifying. Both cars made it to Q3 and it was George Russell who beat out 7 time World Champion Lewis Hamilton. Russell finds himself in a good position for a podium at P3, and will try to get ahead of at least one Ferrari out of the gates.Hamilton struggled to find the speed he needed to get a high position, and will start down in P9.
Fernando Alonso continues to showcase his impressive skills as he got his Aston Martin on the third row in P6 next to Sergio Perez. Meanwhile, his teammate Lance Stroll had an off day and was unable to make it out of Q2 and will begin his season in P12.
McLaren is a team to keep your eye on this season with a pairing of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. They had the speed to get to Q3 and showed some promising laps. They will have their hands full at P7 and P8, as they’re in between a couple of World Champion drivers that have more than double the amount of experience as the flashy young duo.
The surprise of the day comes from Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg. Finding pace all around the track and putting himself in a great position for points in P10 while his teammate, Kevin Magnussen struggled in Q2 and will start P15.
Q2 saw the two RB F1 drivers, Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo, get eliminated and will line up P11 and P14 respectively.
Williams driver Alex Albon continues to have success making it through to Q2 and starting in P13 while his teammate, Logan Sargeant, is down in P18.
Both Sauber and Alpine are off to disastrous starts in 2024 as the only two teams to have both drivers eliminated in Q1.
Sauber drivers, Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu will start in P16 and P17 with laps of 1:30:757 and 1:30:770 respectively.
Meanwhile, Alpine is at the bottom of the grid with Esteban Ocon mustering a 1:30:794 with Pierre Gasly a touch slower finishing Q1 with a 1:30:948.
57 laps around the Bahrain International Circuit tomorrow will determine the first Grand Prix winner of the 2024 Formula One season.