F1 2023 Bahrain Grand Prix: Keep track of all the results from practice sessions and qualifying

In a brutal welcome to the Formula One, Australia’s Oscar Piastri had a nightmare in qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix - while familiar faces dominated at the top of the grid.

Nikita Mazepin of Russia

Max Verstappen said it was a “pleasant surprise” to claim pole position as Red Bull locked out the front row of the grid for Sunday’s season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

The 25-year-old Dutchman, who has never won in Bahrain or at a championship-opening race, secured the 21st pole position of his career with a dazzling pair of laps in the third and final qualifying session (Q3) after struggling with balance and form in practice.

“It’s positive and very surprising,” said Verstappen.

“A pleasant and positive surprise to be on pole after all the struggles in practice. Our race car feels better.

“It’s been a bit of a tough start to the weekend, not finding my rhythm, but in qualifying we managed to put the best pieces together and I’m very happy to be on pole.

“It’s amazing. Now, I’m looking forward for tomorrow. Compared to last year everyone knows a bit more about what they are doing with the car and increasing their performances a lot.”

Australia’s Oscar Piastri qualified 18th fastest for Maclaren.

“I feel like I’m making progress, which is good,” Piastri said.

“There are some improvements to find but I feel like I’m getting there,” he said.

“I’m still making a few mistakes here and there, so I’m not 100 per cent happy with my driving but I feel like we’re in a reasonable place.”

It was Red Bull’s first front row lockout in Bahrain, a track where they have not won since 2013, when the recently-retired Sebastian Vettel was triumphant on his way to his fourth title.

Oscar Piastri struggled in qualifying for the Bahrain grand prix. Picture: Getty

Last year’s pole-sitter and race winner Charles Leclerc was third for Ferrari ahead of team-mate Carlos Sainz, the Monegasque driver choosing to save a set of tyres rather than make a second final flying run.

Two-time champion world Fernando Alonso, who was fastest in second and third practice, was unable to repeat that form, but took fifth on the grid for Aston Martin in his first outing for the team since moving from Alpine to replace Vettel.

The 41-year-old Spaniard, who had beaten Verstappen to top the times in final practice earlier on Saturday, said he had always felt pole position was an unrealistic ambition for Aston Martin.

“We aimed to finish in the top five or six and we did that so it’s good,” he said.

Pole position qualifier Max Verstappen (L) and Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez. Picture: Gettty

Leclerc said: “I think we were in the fight for pole, which was a good surprise to be honest. I did not expect that after testing and after the three practices which were a little bit difficult.

“We managed to find the pace, but not to Red Bull and I think we are better starting third with new tyres than further up with old.

“It was very close. Aston Martin are very quick, Mercedes are very quick. It is looking good for the future and makes Formula 1 much more exciting.” The Mercedes of George Russell and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton were sixth and seventh ahead of Lance Stroll in the second Aston Martin, Esteban Ocon of Alpine and Haas’s Nico Hulkenberg.

“I thought we’d be a lot further behind so reaching Q3 is great and we did a lot of work overnight,” said Hamilton.

“The engineers did a great job and made a step forward. We’re in a different place, but in qualifying the car just didn’t feel alive. It felt really average.

“It is not an impossible mountain to climb and I think we can definitely close the gap. We’ve just got to focus.”

PIASTRI’S SLICK MOVE WOWS F1 WORLD

Aussie rookie Oscar Piastri might not have the early pace but he’s shown he’s got the skills to become a presence on the F1 circuit, narrowly avoiding a high speed disaster in his first official race weekend as a Formula One driver.

Piastri placed 12th and 15th out of 20 drivers across the two opening practice sessions in his first official outing for McLaren as the 2023 season got underway with a surprising resurgence of former world champ Fernando Alonso at Aston Martin.

But it wasn’t the clock which had people talking about Piastri, it was his high speed manouevre to avoid what could have been a dire crash in the second practice session that proved to the world this kid from Melbourne has what it takes behind the wheel.

Engaged in drag race down the main straight with Yuki Tsunoda in the Alpha Tauri, Piastri was caught by surprise when Canadian Lance Stroll appeared in the middle of the circuit after his exit from pitlane in his Aston Martin.

With lightning reflexes Piastri not only avoided running directly into the rear of Stroll, his late braking and lock up into the sharp right at turn one also meant he didn’t collide with anyone or run off the track.

FP2 CLASSIFICATION

Friday belongs to Fernando Alonso 👏#BahrainGP#F1pic.twitter.com/ROGUJZ1ZjS

— Formula 1 (@F1) March 3, 2023

Que isso, Piastri?! Treino livre ainda, parceiro! 👀 pic.twitter.com/OY21M3PNfW

— Massinha F1 (@MassinhaF1_) March 3, 2023

Unfortunately for Piastri he ran off soon after due to the flat spot caused by the previous evasive action, but on a day when teams and drivers are still running various testing and strategies before the first race of the year the vision of the McLaren rookie’s skills in that moment indicate he’s ready for the big stage.

Piastri said he was happy with his first day in F1 and while McLaren have lots of catching up to do with the other teams, they know it’s a strong start for the driver who had not sat behind a race wheel for more than a year after last season’s contract drama with Alpine when he was their reserve driver.

Things got close between Albon and Piastri 🫣#BahrainGP#F1pic.twitter.com/oidPKHcdK5

— Formula 1 (@F1) March 3, 2023

“I feel like I’m making progress, which is good,” Piastri said.

“There are some improvements to find but I feel like I’m getting there. I’m still making a few mistakes here and there, so I’m not 100 per cent happy with my driving but I feel like we’re in a reasonable place.

“We’ll see where we are properly tomorrow but so far, it’s been good. I’ve enjoyed my first official Friday as an F1 driver.”

McLaren's Australian driver Oscar Piastri finished 15th after P2. Picture: AFP

Double world champion Max Verstappen admitted Red Bull have “work to do” to catch Alonso after being outpaced by the Aston Martin driver in Friday’s second practice.

The 25-year-old Dutchman wound up second behind the 41-year-old Spaniard, ahead of team-mate Sergio Perez, who had been fastest in the earlier opening practice session.

“They are quick,” said Verstappen, when asked about Aston Martin’s pace.

“But you could see that in testing when they were competitive. They’ve had a great day - and we have work to do.

“We know we have a very competitive package, but it’s about putting all the pieces together.” Verstappen added that he and the team had endured a difficult day.

Fun and games on a Friday ⚔️😲#BahrainGP#F1pic.twitter.com/l1IM6BfbPK

— Formula 1 (@F1) March 3, 2023

“First practice was really bad. I just couldn’t get a balance, which was a bit odd because in testing, whatever we tried - we were not that far out, so we have a few things to understand.

“Even in second practice, it was difficult, but I think it was not too bad on the short run and the car felt more connected. I just need to find my rhythm again.

“If I feel happy in the car again and I can then we are very fast, but making sure that the car doesn’t fall out of the window for the long run.” Verstappen has never won a season-opening race or triumphed at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

RUSSIAN DRIVER CLEARED TO RETURN

Formula One is back for a new season and it’s a very different looking grid for 2023.

No Daniel Ricciardo in the 20 drivers starting this weekend but Australia is represented by rookie debutant Oscar Piastri who replaced his compatriot at McLaren.

Going into the curtain raiser in Bahrain, Russian ex-Formula 1 driver Nikita Mazepin has been cleared to return to motor racing in Europe, a year after his career was brought to a halt by Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

The 23-year-old Mazepin had been racing in the world championship for the Haas team which was financed by the Uralkali company owned by his father Dmitry.

Both his contract and the title sponsorship of the team were cancelled on the outbreak of the war.

The European Union’s General Court on Thursday lifted some of the sanctions against Nikita Mazepin, a decision which allows him to travel and attempt to resurrect his career on the continent.

The EU had sanctioned him as his father’s company had “activity in economic sectors which constitute a substantial source of income” for Russia.

The order still prevents Mazepin from competing for a team which has links either to his father or anyone already sanctioned by the EU.

“In the event of recruitment” in F1 or in another motor sport taking place on European territory, Nikita Mazepin “must undertake to race under a neutral flag and to sign the commitment of the drivers required by the International Automobile Federation to this effect,” said the declaration.

Mazepin, who has recently been racing in Asia, welcomed the decision by the EU body.

“I am very happy with this decision which gives me hope to resume my professional career in international motor racing,” he said.

“I will do my best to make up for lost time and look forward to rejoin the sport that I love, to which I have dedicated my life.”

His legal team said the order was a “rare” decision. The General Court ruled that Mazepin “is in no way involved in the aggression suffered by Ukraine and does not exercise any activity in economic sectors which provide a substantial source of income” to Russia.

“He has always maintained a neutral position on the war as a professional athlete,” added the order.

“He only asks that he be given the opportunity to pursue his career ... without the financial support of his father.” In explaining its decision, the court said that the European Council did not “provide convincing evidence” showing that the ex-Haas driver “should be considered as still being linked to his father”.

Mazepin endured a tough single season in Formula 1, ending the 2021 season in 21st place and without a single point to his name.