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 15:15 · Andrew Gamble]

CAN A HAAS OR WILLIAMS ESCAPE Q1?

I wouldn’t bet on it. I would love Russell to escape, but the question also remains - who will join the four seemingly doomed drivers?

Esteban Ocon is currently in that unwanted spot.

[27 March 2021 15:14 · Andrew Gamble]

AS IT STANDS - BOTTOM 10

11. Stroll

12. Alonso

13. Vettel

14. Raikkonen

15. Giovinazzi

16. Ocon

17. Latifi

18. Russell

19. Mazepin

20. Schumacher

[27 March 2021 15:13 · Andrew Gamble]

AS IT STANDS - TOP 10 WITH FIVE MINUTES TO GO

1. Verstappen

2. Tsunoda

3. Hamilton

4. Gasly

5. Perez

6. Bottas

7. Sainz

8. Ricciardo

9. Leclerc

10. Norris

[27 March 2021 15:11 · Andrew Gamble]

7 MINUTES REMAINING IN Q1

The big boys are coming out now - will anyone make a statement?

Obviously we should keep an eye on the battle at the bottom. I’d love to see Schumacher get into Q2.

Norris goes fastest, but he is quickly replaced by Leclerc and Sainz.

Bottas then goes top, and Hamilton beats out his Finnish teammate - 1:30:617.

Perez into second, and now Verstappen goes fastest with a time of 1:30:499.

Gasly into third, and now Tsunoda into second! Wow!

[27 March 2021 15:05 · Andrew Gamble]

15 MINUTES REMAINING IN Q1

George Russell led the cars out to set the first time, but he goes straight to the pits.

Nikita Mazepin spins! Not the best start to his F1 career, even if it is early days.

Mick Schumacher is top with a time of 1:33:861.

STOP THE COUNT!

[27 March 2021 14:59 · Andrew Gamble]

WHO YOU GOT? Q1 SET TO BEGIN

Will it be Max Verstappen or Lewis Hamilton - or will another driver crash the party?

Looking down the grid, can Mick Schumacher or George Russell advance to Q2?

We are underway in less than a minute.

[27 March 2021 14:55 · Andrew Gamble]

FIVE MINUTES AWAY

[27 March 2021 14:53 · Andrew Gamble]

Can George Russell help Williams climb above Haas?

We will find out soon enough - but the 23-year-old Brit is looking ahead to greater success in the future.

Russell was robbed of a maiden F1 win when he stood in for Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, with a team pit-stop error derailing his chances.

“That opportunity I had last year showed that when the pressure is on, when I am thrown into the deep end, I was able to do a pretty solid job.”

He added: “I got a small taste of being at the front. I believe in myself. I believe I’m capable.”

With both Hamilton and team-mate Valtteri Bottas out of contract at the end of the season, Russell is certainly in the running for a Mercedes seat for next season.

“I don’t believe I’m the finished product yet. I believe I’ve still got to improve but I think I’m definitely capable of winning races and fighting for World Championships.

“Ultimately I need to find myself in a car and a team that I think will give me the best opportunity in doing that because I need to be in that position now to start capitalising when I get into my prime.”

[27 March 2021 14:48 · Andrew Gamble]

QUALIFYING SET TO BEGIN

[27 March 2021 14:48 · Andrew Gamble]