The drivers are off for their formation lap with the sun just setting in Sakhir.
Seems like most teams are going for a two-stop strategy today, mostly on the medium tyres in Bahrain – although some will consider the harder tyres.
We had quite a static race in Japan a week ago. This ought to be quite different with a high level of degradation on the asphalt track in Bahrain. Less than five minutes now … the grid is finally starting to clear of bodies.
It’s pushing 30C in Sakhir right now, even with the sun dropping. Tyres overheating has been an issue for a few teams and drivers this weekend.
Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton here doing his 125637th interview of an average race weekend:
It’s a really, really great team, the energy and passion within the team is just incredible. I’ve just got to work on delivering [more] for them and try and see if I can get a bit further ahead today and get some points. Charles [Leclerc] did an amazing job yesterday so I really hope today he can have a chance at winning, that would be amazing for the team. We keep pushing.
It’s now that time where the grid is absolutely packed with anybody and everybody. Not too long til we’re off and racing.
Lando Norris was very down on himself talking to the media after yesterday’s qualifying. He said he felt “clueless” in an “amazing car” and took sole blame for finishing P6 … it must hurt him to see Piastri flying and in pole, I guess.
“I’ve just got to work on myself,” he said. “I can’t fault the team and the car is the best by a long way. But clearly I’m just not clicking at the minute.”
McLaren have never triumphed in a Bahrain GP let’s remember. Zak Brown has been asked about it and said it was time to change the history books.
Piastri is a big favourite to do exactly that today. He will take some beating.
How they will line up on the grid
Full qualifying standings – note that Mercedes were investigated for allowing their cars to leave the garage too early after a red flag and George Russell and Kimi Antonelli were given one-place grid penalties.
Piastri
Leclerc
Russell
Gasly
Antonelli
Norris
Verstappen
Sainz
Hamilton
Tsunoda
Doohan
Hadjar
Alonso
Ocon
Albon
Hulkenberg
Lawson
Bortoleto
Stroll
Bearman
Preamble
Each Grand Prix this season so far has been won by the driver in pole position, with a different driver claiming each eace. It was Lando Norris in Australia, Oscar Piastri in China and (somehow) Max Verstappen in Japan. So does that mean Piastri, who is on pole today, is destined for glory in Bahrain? Or will we get a fourth different winner?
A Piastri victory would take him to the top of the world championship standings. He’s certainly got a healthy advantage over his McLaren teammate – and current leader – Norris, who qualified down in sixth. It would take a miracle for the Brit to overhaul his orange-clad colleague.
It was also interesting to see the two Mercedes, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, go so fast in qualifying, while Pierre Gasly was speedy in his Alpine, too. A Verstappen win here is incredibly unlikely, given that he qualified down in seventh, still ahead of Yuki Tsunoda in that seemingly cursed Red Bull second seat.
It’s lights out and away we go at 4pm (BST) so stay tuned for all the buildup from the Bahrain International Circuit.