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The wait is over and Formula One’s new era of radical race cars, finally turned up the dial to eleven and showed the world their potential in qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix. Join The Roar for live scores and race updates from 2am (AEDT).
Having traversed through the pre-season without a clear pecking order, qualifying at the 5.4km Sakhir circuit at last showed what many had suspected and that was an advantage to Ferrari and Red Bull.
The likes of Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz and reigning world champion Max Verstappen all traded fastest laps throughout the hour-long session, as the Monegasque driver put in the best time at the death to draw first blood with pole position.
A tenth separated Leclerc from Verstappen, who split the Ferraris and left Sainz an agonising six-thousandths of a second off a maiden pole position. The second Red Bull of Sergio Perez completed the second row of the grid.
Some shocks too ahead of the season-opening 57-lap grand prix, with the likes of Mercedes and McLaren massively struggling. Six of the eight Mercedes-Benz powered cars failed to even qualify in the top ten, as Daniel Ricciardo and the Aston Martins struggled to even progress from Q1.
Limited testing for Ricciardo due to a positive Covid-19 test and then a water leak during Friday practice, only compounded a frustrating start to the new season for the Aussie. While Hulkenberg earned the late callup to Aston Martin, deputising for Sebastian Vettel who also tested positive for Covid-19.
Intriguing will be how the remainder of the top ten unfolds during the race, with Lewis Hamilton leading the way in fifth. Impressive performances for Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas and Haas returnee Kevin Magnussen directly behind the seven-time world champion, begs for solid points.
Part of the new regulations for 2022 also sees the removal of the Q2 tyre rule, meaning that all drivers will have a free choice of starting tyre in the race. With Pirelli bringing their hardest compounds of tyre, it is likely that this will be a one-stop race.
Whether it is on-track or in the pit-lane, it will be a fascinating battle between Ferrari and Red Bull. Leclerc chases Ferrari’s first win since 2019, Verstappen to start his title defence in winning ways and Sainz pursuing a maiden Formula One victory.
Will these radical new cars fulfil their promise of delivering closer wheel-to-wheel racing as well? Be sure to tune in for live blog updates on The Roar from 1:50am AEDT of Formula One’s curtain raising Bahrain Grand Prix.
Lights out: 2am (AEDT)
Venue: Sakhir International Circuit, Bahrain
TV: Fox Sports
Online: Kayo Sports, Foxtel
Grid
1 Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), 2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull), 3. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari), 4. Sergio Perez (Red Bull), 5. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), 6. Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo), 7. Kevin Magnussen (Haas), 8. Fernando Alonso (Alpine), 9. George Russell (Mercedes), 10. Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri), 11. Esteban Ocon (Alpine), 12. Mick Schumacher (Haas), 13. Lando Norris (McLaren), 14. Alex Albon (Williams), 15. Guanyu Zhou (Alfa Romeo), 16. Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri), 17. Nico Hulkenberg (Aston Martin), 18. Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren), 19. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin), 20. Nicholas Latifi (Williams)
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