Max Verstappen lays down marker with masterful Bahrain F1 GP pole
Max Verstappen claimed pole for the Bahrain Grand Prix, the opening meeting of the new 2023 Formula One season. The Red Bull driver delivered a masterful, controlled lap of the Sakhir circuit to beat his teammate Sergio Pérez into second place. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was in third. By far the best showing of the new season belonged to Fernando Alonso putting his Aston Martin in fifth, beating both the Mercedes drivers, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, who were in sixth and seventh. Carlos Sainz was in fourth for Ferrari.