Starting grid for F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: How today's race will begin
This is the starting grid for the 2024 F1 Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday
| Starting grid for 2024 F1 Bahrain Grand Prix | |||
| 1 | Max Verstappen | NED | Oracle Red Bull Racing |
| 2 | Charles Leclerc | MON | Scuderia Ferrari |
| 3 | George Russell | GBR | Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team |
| 4 | Carlos Sainz | ESP | Scuderia Ferrari |
| 5 | Sergio Perez | MEX | Oracle Red Bull Racing |
| 6 | Fernando Alonso | ESP | Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team |
| 7 | Lando Norris | GBR | McLaren F1 Team |
| 8 | Oscar Piastri | AUS | McLaren F1 Team |
| 9 | Lewis Hamilton | GBR | Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team |
| 10 | Nico Hulkenberg | GER | MoneyGram Haas F1 Team |
| 11 | Yuki Tsunoda | JPN | Visa Cash App RB F1 Team |
| 12 | Lance Stroll | CAN | Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team |
| 13 | Alex Albon | THA | Williams Racing |
| 14 | Daniel Ricciardo | AUS | Visa Cash App RB F1 Team |
| 15 | Kevin Magnussen | DEN | MoneyGram Haas F1 Team |
| 16 | Valtteri Bottas | FIN | Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber |
| 17 | Zhou Guanyu | CHN | Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber |
| 18 | Logan Sargeant | USA | Williams Racing |
| 19 | Esteban Ocon | FRA | BWT Alpine F1 Team |
| 20 | Pierre Gasly | FRA | BWT Alpine F1 Team |
Max Verstappen claimed the first pole position of 2024 - and it's unlikely to be his last.
After a Thursday where Red Bull's true potential remained hidden, Verstappen exploded into action on Friday to lay down a marker for the new season at the first race.
Behind Verstappen is Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Mercedes' George Russell.
Lewis Hamilton must make do with a disappointing P9.
The Aston Martins and McLarens - who will have dreamt of being Red Bull's closest competitors when the new season gets underway - could only qualify in sixth (Fernando Alonso) and seventh (Lando Norris).
Notably both Alpine drivers - Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly - start at the back of the grid.
James was a sports journalist at Sky Sports for a decade covering everything from American sports, to football, to F1.
