Key events
McLaren have never triumphed in a Bahrain GP let’s remember. Zak Brown has been asked about it and said it was time to change the history books.
Piastri is a big favourite to do exactly that today. He will take some beating.
How they will line up on the grid
Full qualifying standings – note that Mercedes were investigated for allowing their cars to leave the garage too early after a red flag and George Russell and Kimi Antonelli were given one-place grid penalties.
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Piastri
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Leclerc
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Russell
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Gasly
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Antonelli
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Norris
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Verstappen
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Sainz
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Hamilton
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Tsunoda
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Doohan
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Hadjar
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Alonso
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Ocon
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Albon
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Hulkenberg
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Lawson
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Bortoleto
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Stroll
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Bearman
Preamble
Each Grand Prix this season so far has been won by the driver in pole position, with a different driver claiming each eace. It was Lando Norris in Australia, Oscar Piastri in China and (somehow) Max Verstappen in Japan. So does that mean Piastri, who is on pole today, is destined for glory in Bahrain? Or will we get a fourth different winner?
A Piastri victory would take him to the top of the world championship standings. He’s certainly got a healthy advantage over his McLaren teammate – and current leader – Norris, who qualified down in sixth. It would take a miracle for the Brit to overhaul his orange-clad colleague.
It was also interesting to see the two Mercedes, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, go so fast in qualifying, while Pierre Gasly was speedy in his Alpine, too. A Verstappen win here is incredibly unlikely, given that he qualified down in seventh, still ahead of Yuki Tsunoda in that seemingly cursed Red Bull second seat.
It’s lights out and away we go at 4pm (BST) so stay tuned for all the buildup from the Bahrain International Circuit.