Verstappen, pole in Bahrain, with Sainz and Alonso eyeing the podium

In Bahrain, sanity prevailed. Many dreamed of a pole alonsobut the test of cotton remained: the sorting. Max Verstappen did what was expected of a Red Bull who started as the main candidate and took the first step to take the first victory of the season this Sunday by taking pole position in F1 Bahrain GP 2023. The Dutchman is a favorite for a turn and the rhythm of the race, and will start this Sunday supervised by his teammate ‘Checho’ Perezwho in his last attempt placed himself in second place at 0″238 behind Max to protect their leader in the front row of the starting grid.

gg.didomi.doWhenConsent(!window.didomiBypass, ‘c:twitterwi-wUmBnnKy’, function () {
var x = document.createElement(‘script’);
x.setAttribute(“type”,”text/javascript”);
x.setAttribute(“src”, “//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js”);
x.setAttribute(“charset”, “utf-8”);
$(“.twitter-tweet”).closest( “span” ).append(x);
});

Ferrari improve, Sainz 4th and Alonso 5th for the podium

Right behind, Ferrari appeared. As many predicted despite its problems over the weekend, after one lap, the red car was very fast thanks to its improved engine. made Charles Leclerc was 3rd at 0″292 and Sainz, 4th at 0″446. But in the race it will be another song. Because of your rear-view mirror there will be a green area that has a lot to say Fernando Alonso finished 5th at 0″628 and should consider this initial place too good to qualify for the podium. The Asturian didn’t have a second set of new softs that could bring him closer, but he enjoyed an initial distance of 6 tenths at best.

gg.didomi.doWhenConsent(!window.didomiBypass, ‘c:twitterwi-wUmBnnKy’, function () {
var x = document.createElement(‘script’);
x.setAttribute(“type”,”text/javascript”);
x.setAttribute(“src”, “//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js”);
x.setAttribute(“charset”, “utf-8”);
$(“.twitter-tweet”).closest( “span” ).append(x);
});

Fernando is in the leading group, it is true, now it can be confirmed. No more top 3 teams. There are 4. Aston Martin is another in a very tight group, where however Red Bull is more favorite than ever. Aston Martin is there, not to fight for pole position, but beware of those who were disappointed to see Fernando in fifth position and thought it was the same as last years. Not really! The fifth starting position for Fernando Alonso allows him to dream big this Sunday. Not in victory 33, because Verstappen is on another planet. But yes in the drawer, where the Spaniard has many options.

Alonso, big guns for this Sunday

When everyone took off their masks and put all the meat on the grill of their engines in qualifying, Ferrari and Mercedes were there. It was a fierce battle in one round between those in red, Alonso and those with stars. But this Sunday, everything could change.

Carlos Sainz managed to turn around the difficult Friday he had, where he found a car that was very far from the car he was comfortable with in the tests, and a day later he was able to drive with more confidence. The man from Madrid was unable to pass Charles in his first attempt due to a major whiplash at turn 6. Leclerc got out of his car angry at not being able to make the final lap in Q3, as he chose to save a new soft tire for in the race. Carlos tries again, although the machada misses. He remained a tenth and a half behind his companion. It’s not what you want and you start paddling from there.

The good news for Ferrari was placing as the second best team in one lap. For Alonso, the ability to overcome Mercedes, where Russell is 6th (0″632) only 3 thousandths behind the man from Oviedo, and Hamilton 7th, 0″676 behind the best. So, the battle for the podium between Leclerc, Carlos Sainz, Alonso and the two Mercedes seems to be tight, especially if we consider the strategic difference of a race that should be two stops, and in Bahrain the ‘Safety Car’ He always comes out to add spice to the matter.

There, undoubtedly, is a pilot who seems to have left with better weapons.

The Aston Martin’s racing speed seems to be its best asset thanks to how well it manages the tires. We have announced. It would have been normal to see Alonso 7th instead of 5th today. The Spaniard should celebrate that he got rid of the two Mercedes from the start to go for the two Ferraris, with more damage. Sainz has already warned that with the speed of the race the red team is preparing to suffer. Alonso has more options and his fight for the podium could be with Mercedes, although Leclerc will start with a different strategic option as he has new soft rubber to attack.

In that context, Alonso’s podium is very, very likely. A good start from the Asturian could make him think about hunting down a Pérez who poses more doubts than a seemingly unbeatable Verstappen. Who keeps dreaming with the man from Oviedo?

Stroll, Ocon and Hülkenberg completed the Top-10

Alonso’s partner Lance Strollingriding with wrist discomfort from his bicycle accident, then 8th in front of Esteban Ocon (Alpine). The French are the best in a very tight central zone that is truly crazy. Hülkenberg, with Haas, was 10th on his return and Norris salvaged the tools for McLaren with 11th square that allows you to dream points. Since then, more is expected of those Alfa Romeo (Bottas, 12th and 13th Zhou) and of a magnussen with him Haas is 17th and this Sunday he has to return to his match in Tsunoda (14th), Albon (15th), sergeant (16), piastre (18th), DeVries (19th) and a Gasly who will be the last to come out with him Alpine for exceeding track limits. The fight will be equal in the center and back.