Fernando Alonso (ESP) Aston Martin F1 Team AMR23. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 1, Bahrain Grand Prix, Sakhir, Bahrain,
Fernando Alonso (ESP) Aston Martin F1 Team AMR23. Formula 1 World…

How qualifying for the 2023 F1 Bahrain Grand Prix unfolded

A recap of how qualifying for the 2023 F1 Bahrain Grand Prix unfolded as Max Verstappen claimed pole position.

Follow all the action from Bahrain, including the latest paddock reaction, here with Crash.net

 

04 Mar 2023
15:25

Albon moves up to sixth fastest - tidy lap for the Williams driver.

15:23

Actually, everyone is out there except Sainz. 

Sainz is on top with a 1m30.993s. 

All the teams must be predicting some major track improvements.

15:23
The track is busy again

All cars except Sainz, Russell Verstappen, Perez and Hamilton are on track.

Alonso and Leclerc join the action despite being quite safe.

15:19
Bottom five

Hulkenberg, Norris, Piastri, Sargeant and Stroll.

15:18

Stroll has his lap deleted for track limits at Turn 13.

15:17
Sainz goes quickest

A surprise to see Ferrari on top but it's Sainz on top ahead of Russell.

Leclerc, Alonso, Verstappen and Perez complete the top six.

15:14
All 20 cars are out on track

Let's see how it plays out. 

15:12
Q1 is back underway

Here we go again!

15:09
Debris at Turn 1

Session will restart in four minutes.

There was some debris at Turn 1.

15:05
Red Flag

Potentially some debris on the track.

15:04
Bad start from Leclerc

He locks up into Turn 1 and a piece has flown off his Ferrari. 

Not ideal for Leclerc early on.

15:01
First cars on track

It's the two AlphaTauris who take to the track in Q1 first.

As do the two Ferraris.

15:00
Q1 is underway

The first qualifying session of the year is now underway in Bahrain.

Q1 is go!

14:56
Five minutes to go

Intro time...

14:49
Our prediction

After scrappy laps for the Red Bulls in FP3, our prediction for qualifying:

1. Verstappen, 2. Perez, 3. Alonso, 4. Leclerc, 5. Hamilton.

Max Verstappen (NLD) Red Bull Racing RB19. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 1, Bahrain Grand Prix, Sakhir, Bahrain,
Max Verstappen (NLD) Red Bull Racing RB19. Formula 1 World Championship,…

14:43
Yuki's at the wheel

Yuki Tsunoda (JPN) AlphaTauri on a BMX bike. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 1, Bahrain Grand Prix, Sakhir, Bahrain,
Yuki Tsunoda (JPN) AlphaTauri on a BMX bike. Formula 1 World Championship,…

14:29
What happened in practice?

Read our FP3 report here...

Kevin Magnussen (DEN) Haas VF-23 and team mate Nico Hulkenberg (GER) Haas VF-23. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 1,
Kevin Magnussen (DEN) Haas VF-23 and team mate Nico Hulkenberg (GER) Haas…

14:16
Not long to go now until qualifying

Fernando Alonso (ESP), Aston Martin Racing Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 1, Bahrain Grand Prix, Sakhir, Bahrain,
Fernando Alonso (ESP), Aston Martin Racing Formula 1 World Championship,…

14:16
Can Alonso take shock pole?

It has been over 10 years since Alonso last claimed a pole position in F1, with the Spaniard topping qualifying at the 2012 German Grand Prix.

Can he do it again today? 

Fernando Alonso (ESP) Aston Martin F1 Team. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 1, Bahrain Grand Prix, Sakhir, Bahrain,
Fernando Alonso (ESP) Aston Martin F1 Team. Formula 1 World Championship,…

12:34
All the lap times from FP3

Full results from final practice...

Valtteri Bottas (FIN) Alfa Romeo F1 Team C43. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 1, Bahrain Grand Prix, Sakhir, Bahrain,
Valtteri Bottas (FIN) Alfa Romeo F1 Team C43. Formula 1 World Championship…

12:30
Chequered flag

Alonso, Verstappen, Perez, Hamilton, Leclerc, Russell, Stroll, Sainz, Piastri and Gasly.

12:28
Ferraris

Leclerc goes fifth, 0.2s off, while Sainz is eighth overall - 0.6s down.

12:25
Perez goes third

The Mexican sets a 1m32.446s, a tenth shy of Alonso.

12:24
Six minutes to go

Alonso, Verstappen, Hamilton, Russell, Stroll, Piastri, Ocon, Zhou, Norris and Hulkenberg.

12:22
Alonso takes to the top again

Alonso is 0.005s clear of Verstappen. Game on for pole position.

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