Max Verstappen claims pole position as Red Bull seal front row at Bahrain GP

Formula One world champion Max Verstappen seized pole position for the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday with Sergio Perez completing a Red Bull front row sweep.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz turned out to be the closest challengers in third and fourth with Fernando Alonso, who made waves with his pace in practice, lining up fifth for Aston Martin.

Verstappen had looked unsettled in practice but the Dutch driver found the time when he needed it to deliver the perfect 51st birthday present for his father Jos with a career 21st pole.

“I hope he was watching, I'm pretty sure he was watching,” he said. “It's been a bit of a tough start to the weekend yesterday and today not really finding my rhythm, but luckily in qualifying we managed to put the best pieces together.

“I was actually positively surprised we were on pole after the struggles I had in practice,” he added. “Normally our race car is better, so let's see.”

George Russell and seven times champion Lewis Hamilton qualified sixth and seventh, respectively, for Mercedes.

Pole position number 21 for @Max33Verstappen