MAX SETS THE PACE TO LEAVE LEWIS TRAILING
RED BULL’S Max Verstappen beat Lewis Hamilton to pole position for the season-opening Grand Prix in Bahrain. For the first time in his Formula One career,verstappen topped the timing sheets in every practice session ahead of qualifying – snatching the top spot by a whopping 0.388s ahead of both of the Mercedes with a 1:28.997 lap.
Verstappen sent a clear warning sign to Mercedes that he is a force to be reckoned with this season, with Hamilton starting second ahead of team-matevaltteri Bottas.
And Hamilton admitted he gave all he had throughout the session, but it just wasn’t enough to beat the flying Dutchman.
He said: “Congratulations to Max, he did such a great job. So fast on that last lap. I absolutely gave it everything I have, but unfortunately wasn’t good enough.
“There’s always more pace but it was the best I could do that’s for sure. I got absolutely everything I could from the car.”
Verstappen is the first nonmercedes driver to take pole on F1’s opening weekend since Sebastianvettel in 2013 but that will not guarantee him a winning start to the season. “Of course we already had a great test week,” the Dutchman said.
“There are no guarantees coming to the first race weekend but the whole week so far the car has been working really well and it’s just been really enjoyable to drive.
“With the wind changing across every session it is not easy to set up the car.
“It all worked out perfectly in qualifying so, of course, I’m very happy with pole position.
“My first lap in Q3 wasn’t amazing so I knew there was some more in it but you’re never sure how much.
“The balance was there so you could push it a little more.we have a good car so we have to have a nice clean start.”
The pressure will be on Bottas, who comes into 2021 with just one win in 16 races in the same machinery as Hamilton, who snatched 11 wins over 17 races last season. He starts third behind Hamilton andverstappen.
Four-time champion Vettel was the big story in Q1, after he was knocked out of the session in his new Aston Martin.