On Sunday, in Bahrain, Verstappen will start on pole position for the 33rd time in his career, a feat that puts him on the same level as legendary F1 drivers Jim Clark and Alain Prost. Only Lewis Hamilton (104), Michael Schumacher (68), Ayrton Senna (65), and Sebastian Vettel (57) have more starts in P1 than Max now.
Verstappen ended his record-breaking season in F1 last year with a pole position in qualifying for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Frighteningly for his competitors, that same form has remained.
Although Red Bull did not reveal its full potential before the night qualifying session, Verstappen dominated the time sheets in the middle of Q2, setting a time that was 0.5s faster than anyone else at the time. In the end, he secured pole position with a lap time of 1:29.179s, which was 0.288s faster than the next fastest time set by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who will start alongside Verstappen on the front row.
The RB20 lived up to the expectations set before the race. Last year, the gap to Leclerc in qualifying was 0.292s, but Verstappen was in P3 at that time, with Sergio Perez splitting the pair on the front row. Perez was a few tenths behind his teammate’s time that night.
This time, the experienced Mexican driver could only manage P5, trailing Verstappen’s best effort by 0.35s, a margin that has been consistent between the two over the years.
Reflecting on his winning pole position lap after qualifying in the parc ferme in Bahrain tonight, the current and three-time F1 world champion, Verstappen, expressed his satisfaction: “It was a pleasant experience. The track had excellent grip, but the strong winds over the past two days made it challenging to put together a perfect lap. Qualifying was no different.
“It was a bit trickier to extract the maximum performance in Q3, but I’m thrilled to be on pole. It was a pleasant surprise, as the car felt better during qualifying. The weekend hasn’t been easy for us so far. Testing was good, but the windy conditions this weekend made it harder to find the right balance of the car. We’ve been continuously working towards qualifying.
“We made some significant improvements to the car, which allowed us to secure pole position. The race is also expected to be closely contested. We have a good chance, but we’ll have to wait until Sunday. I’m confident we can have a strong race,” added Verstappen, who emerged victorious in the Bahrain Grand Prix last year.
This year, the top nine drivers in qualifying are separated by just half a second, compared to a 1.2-second difference between P1 and P9 last year.
In his post-qualifying interview, Perez stated, “It will be crucial to have a good start. If we can get off to a good start and build from there, it should be a positive day for the team. Our position is favorable as we managed to preserve our tires during qualifying. We’ll have to wait until Sunday to see where we are and how the race unfolds.”
In 2023, Red Bull secured a dominant one-two victory in Bahrain, with Verstappen leading Perez by a margin of 11 seconds. Fernando Alonso, representing Aston Martin, claimed third place on the podium, an impressive 38 seconds behind the race winner.
The upcoming Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday will determine whether the gap between Verstappen and the other 19 drivers has increased or not. Regardless, it seems that this year’s narrative will be similar to the previous season, with Max demonstrating his superiority once again.
© 2024
The biggest football competition in the world is about to begin, and fans are eager to see their favorite teams in action. With several exciting games and talented players, the World Cup promises to be an unforgettable event. In this article, we will take a look at the teams participating and the expectations for the tournament.
Brazil – The Brazilian national team is always one of the favorites in any football competition. With players like Neymar and Gabriel Jesus, Brazil has a powerful attack that can cause problems for any defense. They are determined to win the hexacampeonato and have passionate fans supporting them in every game.
Argentina – Led by Lionel Messi, Argentina is also a team to watch. Messi is considered one of the greatest players of all time and is eager to finally win a title with his national team. With a solid defense and a creative midfield, Argentina has all the necessary pieces to go far in the tournament.
Germany – The current world champions, Germany, are ready to defend their title. With a fast and efficient style of play, they are a tough team to beat. Players like Thomas Müller and Toni Kroos are known for their skill and experience in international competitions. Germany will certainly be a threat to any team they face.
Spain – Spain is another team that is always considered one of the favorites. With a possession-based style of play and precise passing, they are able to control the rhythm of any match. With players like Sergio Ramos and Andrés Iniesta, Spain has a talented and experienced team that can go far in the tournament.
These are just a few of the teams that will be competing in the World Cup. With so many talented squads, it is difficult to predict who will emerge as the champion. One thing is certain, however, football fans are eager to see the exciting games and incredible performances that will surely take place during the tournament. The 2024 World Cup promises to be an unmissable sporting event.
