Bahrain F1 Qualifying Set to Reveal 2024 F1 Hierarchy

In the first qualifying session of the 2024 F1 season at Sakhir, teams begin to reveal their strengths, setting the stage for an exciting Bahrain Grand Prix.

After three free practice sessions in which establishing a hierarchy was challenging, the first qualifying session of the 2024 F1 season has finally arrived at Sakhir. The Bahrain Grand Prix will provide initial concrete insights into the hierarchy.

Will Red Bull dominate once again? Have Mercedes F1 and Ferrari managed to close the gap? Can McLaren surprise the top three teams? So many questions that will finally find a first answer, awaiting the more concrete verdict of tomorrow’s race.

Red Bull is still the obvious favorite, but the competition seems to have closed in, at least over a single lap, with a group comprising Ferrari, McLaren, and Mercedes close behind, as well as Aston Martin, especially Fernando Alonso.

Behind them, the battle will be fierce for Q2 and Q3, as the gaps in the midfield are also minimal. One cannot help but feel a certain concern for Alpine, whose free practice performances have not been reassuring.

Q1 – 18 minutes

Carlos Sainz was the first to set a time at 1’31″208 on medium tires, and Charles Leclerc was just 0″052 behind his teammate. The Alpine drivers were also on track, on mediums like the Ferrari drivers, with Esteban Ocon placing seven-tenths behind Sainz, and Pierre Gasly 1″2 back.

Gasly’s time was canceled for exceeding track limits at turn 13. Almost all drivers took to the track, except for Sergio Pérez. The Mexican eventually went out on track while other drivers were launching for a fast lap.

Alex Albon took the top time at 1’30″692 on soft tires, and Nico Hülkenberg improved to 1’30″623. Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo took fourth and fifth places, ahead of the Stake drivers. Logan Sargeant placed just behind Albon, then Oscar Piastri slotted in between the Williams.

Lance Stroll set the sixth-fastest time, and Lando Norris took the lead at 1’30″143. Fernando Alonso placed second, 0″036 off Norris, and Max Verstappen took the lead at 1’30″031, a tenth ahead of Norris. George Russell took the fourth time.

Lewis Hamilton was only ninth, and Pérez finished with the fourth time, 0″190 off. The Ferrari drivers went for a lap on soft tires, with Leclerc moving up to fifth place, while Sainz took the top spot at 1’29″909.

Guanyu Zhou set another time and improved to move up to 11th place, while Valtteri Bottas replaced him in that position. Piastri improved to eighth, and Magnussen to tenth. Tsunoda moved up to ninth, and Ricciardo to 11th.

Lance Stroll moved up to second, 0″056 off Sainz, and Hamilton came back to tenth. The Alpines were on track, with Ocon staying 19th and Gasly not improving, remaining 20th, with the French team occupying the last place.

The eliminated drivers were Bottas, Zhou, Sargeant, Ocon, and Gasly.

Q2 – 15 minutes

Hülkenberg set a time of 1’30″997, and Magnussen fell short by 0″173 to his teammate. Piastri advanced with a time of 1’30″624, immediately beaten by Norris with 1’29″941. Stroll placed third, with Tsunoda and Ricciardo positioning behind Hülkenberg as Magnussen lost his time.

Alonso recorded the second provisional time, and Sainz the third, then Leclerc positioned second, 0″153 off Norris. Verstappen took the lead with a time of 1’29″374, and Pérez second, just nine thousandths ahead of Norris. Russell only managed the eighth provisional time.

Hülkenberg captured the second time, Albon the eighth, narrowly beaten by Stroll. Ricciardo climbed to tenth place, and Sainz placed second, 0″199 off. Tsunoda achieved the eighth time, and Alonso climbed to third. Leclerc secured the top time with 1’29″165, and Russell moved up to sixth. Hamilton improved to the fourth time.

The eliminated were Tsunoda, Stroll, Albon, Ricciardo, and Magnussen.

Q3 – 12 minutes – Bahrain Grand Prix 2024 F1 Qualifying

Hülkenberg posted a 1’30″502, surpassed by Norris with 1’29″679. Russell improved to 1’29″603, and Verstappen took the lead with 1’29″421. The initial times of Hamilton and Piastri were disappointing, as was Pérez’s, who was fourth.

Sainz placed third, less than two tenths off, and Leclerc took second by 0″059! Everything was still in play for the second run, and Alonso did not set a time as he had only one set of soft tires left.

Alonso went out staggered from the other drivers and recorded the second-best absolute sector, ultimately placing third, 0″121 off. The other drivers were then exiting the pits for their last run. Notably, Norris had a set that had run a lap in his first run.

Piastri improved to the seventh time, and Norris moved up to sixth. Hülkenberg improved his time but remained tenth. Verstappen took a tow from Piastri, and Sainz from Hülkenberg.

Russell improved to third place, and Hamilton only managed the eighth time. Verstappen advanced to 1’29″179, and Leclerc fell short by 228 thousandths. Sainz moved up to fourth, and Pérez finished in fifth.

Therefore, Verstappen is on pole ahead of Leclerc, Russell, Sainz, Pérez, Alonso, Norris, Piastri, Hamilton, and Hülkenberg.

2024 F1 Bahrain Grand Prix – Qualifying Results

Bahrain Grand Prix 2024 : F1 Qualifying. Bahrain Grand Prix 2024 : F1 Qualifying

• Bahrain GP 2024: Final Practice Shakes Grid
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