Bahrain Grand Prix qualifying LIVE: F1 latest updates, track times, results, grid and pole position

Follow all the latest updates from the first grand prix of the season as Lewis Hamilton sets sights on a record eighth world title

(AP)

ed Bull’s Max Verstappen took a superb pole position on Saturday for the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix and will start the race immediately ahead of Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton. Verstappen earned his fourth career pole to deny Hamilton his 99th, edging out the world champion by .39 seconds on his final attempt. “The whole weekend has been pretty good so far,” Verstappen said. “We knew what our weaknesses were last year and it looks like we’ve addressed them.” Verstappen praised Honda for improving reliability. “Honda have worked really hard to improve their engine,” he said. “Their turnaround has been really good and their understanding of the engine is impressive. They are just flat out all the time and want to win.” Hamilton’s teammate Valtteri Bottas was .59 behind Verstappen in third, while Charles Leclerc qualified in an encouraging fourth for Ferrari. In another encouraging sign for Honda, Pierre Gasly was fifth for AlphaTauri, which also uses their engine. Verstappen clinched the season-ending Abu Dhabi last December from pole and now goes for the 11th win of his career. Hamilton seeks a record-extending 96th win. “We knew it was going to be a challenge, a bit of an uphill slog,” Hamilton said. “Congratulations to Max. I gave everything I had.” Verstappen led the first part of qualifying, known as Q1, ahead of AlphaTauri’s 20-year-old Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda. Both cars use Honda engines and the Japanese manufacturer is in its final season before leaving F1. Sebastian Vettel, who endured a torrid season last year with Ferrari, started the new one badly. He was among the five drivers eliminated from Q1 and starts 18th for Aston Martin. Michael Schumacher’s son, Mick Schumacher, starts from 19th at the track where his father won the inaugural race in 2004, the year he clinched his seventh F1 title. Hamilton is looking to win a record eighth title. Ferrari duo Carlos Sainz Jr. and Leclerc topped Q2 ahead of Hamilton, an encouraging sign for the famed Italian manufacturer given last season’s difficulties. Earlier in the day, Verstappen clocked the fastest time in the final practice when, in hot conditions, he was .74 seconds quicker than Hamilton. Vettel came back to the garage with about 20 minutes left in the session, telling his team some debris had hit his race helmet. Qualifying took place in the evening under cooler conditions as the sun set on the Sakhir desert track. Verstappen is continuing his form from pre-season testing and last year’s season-ending Abu Dhabi GP, which he won. [AP}

Re-live all the action below.

• Max Verstappen quickest in final practice

Bahrain GP qualifying

• Red Bull’s Max Verstappen quickest in all three practice sessions

[27 March 2021 16:12 · Andrew Gamble]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVID COULTHARD

[27 March 2021 16:11 · Andrew Gamble]

HAMILTON HAPPY WITH MERCEDES ‘IMPROVEMENT’

The seven-time world champion was beaten to pole position, but Hamilton was gracious.

“Congratulations to Max. I gave it everything I had but it wasn’t enough. I got everything I could from the car.

“We did a good job coming back from testing and to improve like this.”

[27 March 2021 16:10 · Andrew Gamble]

VERSTAPPEN READY FOR THE RACE TOMORROW

Fresh after securing pole position, Verstappen said: “We had a great testing week but there are no guarantees it translates to race weekends. The car has been working really well and of course I’m happy with pole.

“I’m looking forward to tomorrow. We need to get a clean start and take it from there.”

[27 March 2021 16:08 · Andrew Gamble]

VERSTAPPEN ON POLE

Max Verstappen, for only the fourth time in his career, gets pole position.

Lewis Hamilton is next to him, with Valtteri Bottas in third.

I cannot wait for tomorrow. What a tasty line-up.

[27 March 2021 16:07 · Andrew Gamble]

WHAT A THRILLER

[27 March 2021 16:05 · Andrew Gamble]

GRID ORDER FOR THE BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX

1. Verstappen - Red Bull

2. Hamilton - Mercedes

3. Bottas - Mercedes

4. Leclerc - Ferrari

5. Gasly - AlphaTauri

6. Ricciardo - McLaren

7. Norris - McLaren

8. Sainz - Ferrari

9. Alonso - Alpine

10. Stroll - Aston Martin

11. Perez - Red Bull

12. Giovinazzi - Alfa Romeo

13. Tsunoda - AlphaTauri

14. Raikkonen - Alfa Romeo

15. Russell - Williams

16. Ocon - Alpine

17. Latifi - Williams

18. Vettel - Aston Martin

19. Schumacher - Haas

20. Mazepin - Haas

[27 March 2021 16:03 · Andrew Gamble]

RED BULL ON POLE

As Christian Horner just said on the radio, that is the perfect start for Max Verstappen and Red Bull.

[27 March 2021 16:01 · Andrew Gamble]

MAX VERSTAPPEN TAKES POLE POSITION

Hamilton takes provisional pole - but Verstappen takes it!

What a run from the Dutchman. Fastest man in each sector to get a time of 1:28.997.

[27 March 2021 15:59 · Andrew Gamble]

PREPARING FOR THE FINAL PUSH - ONE MINUTE TO GO IN Q3

Teams are jostling for track position, and it is the Mercedes duo that will get us underway.

[27 March 2021 15:58 · Andrew Gamble]

THREE MINUTES TO GO IN Q3

Stroll goes sixth fastest - 1.075s behind Verstappen.

Here we go then - can anyone stop the Red Bull magician?