In a shocking turn of events at the F1 Bahrain GP qualifying, Oscar Piastri snatched pole position from George Russell, leaving Lando Norris and Max Verstappen out of the top 5 positions.
Piastri displayed exceptional pace throughout the qualifying rounds, ultimately securing his pole position during the final run on the rapidly improving Sakhir track. Charles Leclerc claimed the third spot for Ferrari, followed by Andrea Kimi Antonelli in the second Mercedes, and a surprising fifth place by Pierre Gasly for Alpine.
The qualifying session witnessed intense competition, with Norris missing out on a front-row start due to a subpar final lap, landing him in sixth place. Red Bull faced a setback as Verstappen could only manage a seventh-place start, struggling with reported issues in his car.
The drama unfolded early in Q1 when both Red Bull drivers faced challenges, with Verstappen going off track and Tsunoda losing his lap for track limits. Despite Verstappen’s complaints about his car, he managed to secure a spot in Q2. However, Alex Albon’s unexpected elimination in 16th position marked a surprising turn of events.
Q2 saw a red flag after a crash by Esteban Ocon, causing a brief halt in the session. The qualifying intensity resumed with Piastri dominating the sessions, leading Norris and Gasly. The final showdown in Q3 witnessed Verstappen struggling with brake issues, allowing Piastri to clinch his second pole position in his F1 career.
The top 10 grid positions showcased a mix of surprises and disappointments, with Leclerc, Antonelli, and Gasly securing strong starting positions. As the stage is set for the Bahrain GP, the qualifying results have already set the tone for a thrilling race ahead.