F1 races 2022: Take a virtual lap ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix
Follow live coverage from Bahrain Grand Prix qualifying after Charles Leclerc stunned Max Verstappen to claim the opening pole position of the 2022 F1 season.
The Ferrari driver will start from the front for Sunday’s opening Grand Prix of the campaign with the 2021 world champion second. Leclerc’s teammate Carlos Sainz rounds out the top three with Sergio Perez of Red Bull fourth.
Lewis Hamilton, who has bemoaned Mercedes’ pace throughout pre-season, could only manage fifth with new teammate George Russell ninth, former teammate Valtteri Bottas squeezing himself in between them in sixth for Alfa Romeo.
Elsewhere, the FIA have finally released the findings of their report into the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the result of which saw Verstappen seal his world title back in December.
FIA report confirms Verstappen’s world title win
The FIA’s report blamed “human error” for the unprecedented application of safety car rules which caused such a stir, effectively pinning responsibility on the since sacked race director Michael Masi, although it added that Masi acted “in good faith”.
Lawrence Ostlere19 March 2022 17:15
Leclerc beats Verstappen to Bahrain GP pole
Read the full report from qualifying in Bahrain:
Lawrence Ostlere19 March 2022 16:55
Magnussen returns to F1 with P7 in qualifying
Kevin Magnussen got a late call up to join Team Haas after Russian driver Nikita Mazepin was cut from the grid.
“I feel so unbelievably lucky to be in a good car in Formula ,” Magnussen said after finishing an impressive seventh in qualifying. “To start P7, if you can do that you’ve got to go for points [on Sunday]. The biggest concern is reliability but hopefully we can get there.”
Asked whether he was promised a fast car and the opportunity to compete at the front of the grid, Magnussen said: “Gunter [Steiner, Haas boss] said they think they have a decent car, but he didn’t promise anything. It’s just crazy.”
Kevin Magnussen was delighted with his return to F1
(REUTERS)
Lawrence Ostlere19 March 2022 16:40
Mercedes’ Hamilton qualified fifth
Lewis Hamilton: “I’m generally really happy with today, given the past few weeks, the car’s been a bit of a nightmare to drive, so to get fifth in qualifying – those guys ahead are in another league so I’m generally happy with where we are.
“We’re not in a fight with those guys [ahead]. My battle tomorrow is with the guys behind me.”
Lewis Hamilton on track in Bahrain
(AFP via Getty Images)
Lawrence Ostlere19 March 2022 16:35
Red Bull’s Perez qualified fourth behind Ferraris
Sergio Perez: “It would have been ideal to start P3, but overall it’s a good result as a team and we’re looking forward to a good fight tomorrow. [Ambition tomorrow is] to try to get in that podium and get a one-two for the team.”
Lawrence Ostlere19 March 2022 16:32
Ferrari on pole
Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto: “Tomorrow can been even tougher, it’s another situation. The season will be long, let’s hope it’s competitive. They [Leclerc and Sainz] did their best. It will take a few races to extract the maximum potential from the car.”
Lawrence Ostlere19 March 2022 16:26
F1 Bahrain qualifying
Max Verstappen won’t start his title defence in pole position but he has reflected positively on the session.
He told Sky: “It was a good day overall. It was a good start to the new era.
“A few things to look into and try to do better for next time. You want to be good in qualifying but you want to make sure your tyres are working for the race.”
Sarah Rendell19 March 2022 16:11
F1 Bahrain qualifying: Leclerc reacts
Charles Leclerc has pole at the first race of the season and he has reacted on the achievement.
“It feels good,” he told Sky. “The last few years have been difficult for the team.
“We have worked extremely well as a team to fight for better places. It has been a tricky qualifying session. I wasn’t completely happy with my session but I managed to get the lap.
“Testing was very useful. I’ve tried many different driving styles and I still need to find a perfect one.”
Sarah Rendell19 March 2022 16:08
F1 Bahrain qualifying: Leclerc takes pole
Charles Leclerc have taken pole position! Verstappen was the last to cross the line but he was 0.123 slower than Leclerc.
So the line-up was: Leclerc, Verstappen, Sainz, Perez, Hamilton, Bottas, Magnussen, Alonso, Russell, Gasly.
The storyline of Bottas being faster than Russell, who took his Mercedes seat last season, is interesting!
Cracking return to the F1 for Haas’ Magnussen too.
Sarah Rendell19 March 2022 16:03
F1 Bahrain qualifying
Everyone is now out so I’ll bring you the new line-up when another lap time is in.
This season is going to be so tight, we can tell from these sessions. Imagine the competition when the Mercedes car is firing once again.
Sarah Rendell19 March 2022 15:58
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