Ricciardo and Piastri dealt reality check in qualifying for Bahrain Grand Prix

Australia’s two drivers have been dealt a reality check as a familiar face dominated qualifying for the first F1 race of the year.

AFP

3 min read

March 2, 2024 - 9:45AM

Oscar Piastri and Daniel Ricciardo.

Max Verstappen delivered some much-needed relief for his Red Bull team on Friday when he resisted Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc to claim pole position for Saturday’s season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

The defending three-time world champion picked up where he left off last year by topping the times in a closely-contested qualifying session at the Bahrain International Circuit at Sakhir.

His success, which he admitted was “a little bit unexpected” arrived after another day of speculation and pressure for team boss Christian Horner, following the anonymous leaking of a cache of alleged private messages and photographs between him and a female member of the team.

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This came 24 hours after an internal investigation led by an independent London lawyer had resulted in Horner being cleared of all claims of inappropriate behaviour.

Verstappen clocked a fastest lap of one minute and 29.179 seconds to beat Leclerc by 0.228 seconds in the final seconds of the session, securing his third Bahrain pole and the 33rd of his career.

“It was a lot of fun,” said Verstappen.

“The track had a lot of grip, but with the wind over the last few days, it’s been quite tricky to get a whole lap together and it was the same in qualifying.

“In Q1 and Q2 you go a bit faster, with the track ramping up, but to really get everything out of it in Q3 was a little bit difficult. So I’m very happy to be on pole.”

Max Verstappen’s dominance looks set to continue. (Photo by Bob McCaffrey/Getty Images)

He added: “To be honest, it was a little bit unexpected, but I think the car came to us and I felt happier with the whole car.” He forecast a close race on Saturday.

“We look good for the race and that’s the most important, but we will see tomorrow. I’m confident we can have a strong race.”

Ferrari’s Leclerc missed pole by only two-tenths of a second as he finished second ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell, Carlos Sainz of Ferrari and Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull.

“I’m a bit disappointed,” admitted Leclerc.

“But we had a good qualifying and this offers us a good start to the year.”

Two-time champion Fernando Alonso qualified sixth for Aston Martin, ahead of the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri with seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton ninth for Mercedes and Nico Hulkenberg 10th for Haas.

In the mix. Plenty to play for.
— Oscar Piastri (@OscarPiastri) March 1, 2024

It was an early reality check for McLaren, who hope to challenge for race wins this season but appear behind Red Bull, Mercedes and Ferrari — although Piastri and Norris were only half a second slower than Verstappen.

“I think the positive thing is I’m 8th, well that’s not a positive thing obviously but the gap is very small,” Piastri said.

Australia’s Daniel Ricciardo qualified in 14th, falling back to earth after showing promising lap times in pre-season testing. His Visa Cash App RB teammate Yuki Tsunoda qualified 11th fastest.

Ricciardo told Sky Sports: “I was disappointed in my position/performance.

“I didn’t drive shit or anything, but there was just some … I never really crossed the line being like yeah, I did a clear lap. There was always [a feeling of] I know I can make time at Turn 1, or Turn 4.

“There was always some parts on the track where I knew there was lap time, but I never really was able to put it together.

“Even if I improved a little bit, then I’d probably lose a bit in the next corner, so it kind of seesawed a bit. I was never progressively gaining.”

Daniel Ricciardo was underwhelming in qualifying. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

Oscar Piastri was eighth fastest. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Hamilton reflected: “It’s a lot of work to do to get past a lot of quick cars that are starting ahead of me, but I’m sure it’ll be fun.

“George’s position and the pace he showed today really highlights, and is a real testament, to the team.

“It shows just how hard everyone has worked over the winter.

It’s amazing for us to have a car that we can fight with. It reignites the fire and the flame.”

The first qualifying session ended with Sainz on top as the Alpines made an early exit along with both Saubers and Williams’ Logan Sargeant.

After topping Thursday’s opening practice, Hamilton squeezed through in 15th place.

Leclerc topped the times on the second runs of Q2 and Sainz was third, sandwiching Verstappen in second, while Hamilton was fourth with a late lap.

In the final seconds of the top 10 shootout Verstappen improved to 1:29.179, enough to resist Leclerc by 0.228 seconds to launch his 2024 season in ominous fashion.

Exceptionally the Bahrain race and next weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix are being staged on Saturdays to accommodate the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

F1 Bahrain qualifying results

1) Max Verstappen

2) Charles Leclerc

3) George Russell

4) Carlos Sainz

5) Sergio Perez

6) Fernando Alonso

7) Lando Norris

8) Oscar Piastri

9) Lewis Hamilton

10) Nico Hulkenberg

11) Yuki Tsunoda