Charles Leclerc is on pole position for the first race of Formula 1 2022 after a sensational Bahrain GP qualifying for Ferrari, beating world champion Max Verstappen as Mercedes struggled to match their rivals.
In an unpredictable and fiercely competitive qualifying under the lights at Sakhir, it was a Ferrari vs Red Bull battle throughout but it was Leclerc who struck when it mattered most on his final lap of Q3.
Needing to overhaul team-mate Carlos Sainz, Leclerc posted a 1:30.558 to edge ahead.
Verstappen also improved on his last lap, although finished a tenth down on Leclerc in second place. He will sandwich the Ferraris on the grid for Sunday’s season-opening Bahrain GP at 3pm.
“Obviously the last two years for the team have been extremely difficult but I knew it was just a matter of time before we got back to the top,” said Leclerc, with Ferrari right back in contention at the start of 2022’s new era.
Mercedes, however, were not in the same league as a rejuvenated Ferrari and the ever-strong Red Bull to begin the season.
Sergio Perez was fourth for Red Bull while Lewis Hamilton was the lead Mercedes in fifth, and some 0.680s off pole.
It was an even worse story for George Russell in his first Mercedes qualifying alongside Hamilton, with the Briton only ninth after two scruffy Q3 laps in an all-new car that has struggled through testing and the weekend in Bahrain.
Valtteri Bottas was only just behind old team-mate Hamilton for surprise-package Alfa Romeo, while Kevin Magnussen was another top-10 shock for Haas, qualifying seventh on his F1 return.
It was a disappointing session for McLaren, with Lando Norris out in Q2 and Daniel Ricciardo in Q1, along with Aston Martin stand-in Nico Hulkenberg.
Bahrain GP Qualifying result, top 10
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
