Bahrain Doctor: Max Verstappen defeats Lewis Hamilton to the first pole of F1 2021 in head-to-head start

F1 finally gets the long-awaited duel when Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton go head-to-head for a pole position at the opening of the season, with Red Bull opponent ahead; But Sergio Perez misses Q3, while Vettel struck out in Q1; Watch Sunday’s race live on Sky Sports F1 at 4pm

Max Verstappen defeated Lewis Hamilton to the first pole position in the 2021 season as Bahrain GP certification provided the head-to-head duel between the two long-awaited names in the sport .

After two weeks of games about the true packing order at the start of the season after a test with Red Bull, Verstappen delivered on the team’s promise to end Mercedes ’seven-year run of world champions at the opening round of the F1 season.

Less than a tenth of a split second from Verstappen and Hamilton after the first lap of Q3 but the Dutchman drew a clear with an impressive margin of 0.388s with a brilliant final lap of 1: 28.997.

“Congratulations to Max, he did such a great job. He was so quick on that last lap,” said the generous Hamilton, who is aiming for the eighth highest title in the world this year.

Verstappen, who also said the last pole and last season ‘s win in Abu Dhabi, said: “There are no promises coming to the first race weekend but so far this week is the car has worked well and it has been a great driving pleasure. “

Valtteri Bottas took third place in the second Mercedes but Red Bull suffered a disappointment from their other car as new Sergio Perez signed in Q2 in 11th.

Perez, who won a race for Racing Point on his last F1 trip to Bahrain in December, has replaced the less experienced Alex Albon in the Red Bull line and is expected to create a more consistent face foil for Verstappen. But Mexico lost out in Q2 running on the slowest mediocre tires and others made way for the fastest soft cement.

Charles Leclerc was one of those who made a profit in Q2 and the Monegasque went on to give Ferrari an impressive fourth-round improvement, just ahead of long-time friend Pierre Gasly who showed speed strong through for fast AlphaTauri.

McLaren was sixth and seventh, with new signing Daniel Ricciardo just pushing Lando Norris to Saturday’s honors in their first head-to-head as teammates.

Fernando Alonso made it to Q3 when he returned to F1 for Alpine, gaining a ninth-strong qualification, but vice-champion Sebastian Vettel was a Q1 fighter on his Aston Martin debut after being caught. with yellow flags.

Sunday’s race starts at 4pm live only on Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports Main Event, with pick-up from 2.30pm.

Bahrain GP deserves top 10
1. Max Verstappen, Red Bull
2. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes
4. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
5. Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri
6. Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren
7. Lando Norris, McLaren
8. Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
9. Fernando Alonso, Alpach
10. Lance Stroll, Aston Martin

Game on: Red Bull take on Mercedes from the outside

Since sweeping them all ahead of them in previous F1 rules in 2010-13, Red Bull have played second or third fiddle to Mercedes with a slow start to regular seasons leaving them out of title controversy before midfield. of the year.

But 2021 has already started differently.

The new RB16B was the fastest-tested car, which also happened in Bahrain, and which had shown class action in Verstappen’s hands all through use this weekend.

Mercedes had clearly made improvements to their W12 in the fortnight since testing but believed their competitors were at a distance.

Verstappen had controlled the end use in desert conditions during the day but the gap to Hamilton closed under the floods in the afternoon. The Red Bull was a tenth faster in Q1 – although floor damage was picked up after a wide run over the sidewalk – slower in Q2, and then just 0.023s separated by Verstappen and Hamilton after first scratches in sure pole firing.

But the latter levels certainly fell in favor of the Dutchman for just his fourth career pole.

More to follow …