Verstappen powers to pole at Bahrain Grand Prix

Max Verstappen struck the first blow of the new Formula One season by securing pole position for the Bahrain Grand Prix.

The double world champion beat team-mate Sergio Perez by one tenth as Red Bull locked out the front row, with Charles Leclerc third for Ferrari.

Carlos Sainz finished fourth in the other scarlet car ahead of Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso.

George Russell qualified sixth while Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton could manage only seventh