Watch Bahrain Grand Prix qualifying highlights as McLaren’s Oscar Piastri took pole from Mercedes’ George Russell – with teammate Lando Norris only sixth.
Australian driver Oscar Piastri put his McLaren on pole for Sunday’s Bahrain Grand Prix ahead of George Russell’s Mercedes, but it wasn’t the front-row lockout the Papaya team were hoping for.
A poor Q3 run from World Championship leader Lando Norris left the British driver down in sixth position, just one place ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
George Russell recorded a phenomenal lap and looked to have taken pole before Piastri responded, but Mercedes appear to be the closest rivals to McLaren this weekend.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc qualified third ahead of Russell’s Mercedes teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli in fourth.
An impressive display from Pierre Gasly in the Alpine saw him fifth, with Carlos Sainz eighth in the Williams after Norris and Verstappen.
Lewis Hamilton could only manage ninth on the grid, with Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda completing the top ten.
The earlier sessions indicated McLaren were heading for a one-two on the grid, but Norris’ second lap of Q3 was more than four-tenths of a second slower than his teammate as he struggled to put together a clean final run.
Speaking after his pole-securing lap, Oscar Piastri told Sky Sports F1: “I felt confident all weekend.”
“Qualifying the others were a little closer than we wanted but got the lap time when it mattered. Can’t thank the team enough for the car they’ve given me.”
Watch: Bahrain Grand Prix Qualifying Highlights
Bahrain Grand Prix Qualifying Results In Full
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
- George Russell (Mercedes)
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
- Lando Norris (McLaren)
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- Carlos Sainz (Williams)
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
- Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull)
- Jack Doohan (Alpine)
- Isack Hadjar (RB)
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
- Estaban Ocon (Haas)
- Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber)
- Alex Albon (Williams)
- Liam Lawson (RB)
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
- Oliver Bearman (Haas)
