Max Verstappen beats Sergio Perez to pole

But there were no such concerns for Verstappen as the pre-season favourite, who won 15 of the 22 races last year and claimed his second consecutive world title, secured his 21st pole on his father Jos Verstappen’s 51st birthday.

“I’m pretty sure he’s watching,” said the Dutchman. “It was a tough start to the weekend and I didn’t find my rhythm. I struggled to get the car together.

“But we put the best parts together in Q3 – it wasn’t perfect but in a better direction – and I’m looking forward to pole and also for the whole team.

“It’s a very strong start and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”

Alonso led two of Aston Martin’s three practice sessions but the 41-year-old failed to keep his pace into qualifying, capping a sensational debut for the rejuvenated British team by taking his first pole in 11 years.

Lando Norris narrowly made it into Q2, setting the same time as Logan Sargeant but progressing by lapping earlier than the Williams rookie.

23-year-old Norris will have started his fifth season on the grid with higher ambitions than just squeezing into the second stage of qualifying and eventually finishing 11th.

But much to Norris’ frustration, McLaren has slipped down the pecking order and deep into midfield. Norris’ new teammate, Australian Oscar Piastri, is 18th out of 20.

Norris was in 10th and close to making it into Q3 only to be usurped by Lance Stroll in the closing moments.

Stroll is hurtling through the pain barrier here after falling off his road bike last month and requiring surgery on his left wrist.

The son of the team’s fashion billionaire, Lawrence Stroll, finished eighth.

PA sports

Bahrain Grand Prix Qualification, Classification

1. Max Verstappen (Ned) Red Bull 1 min 29.708 sec
2. Sergio Perez (Mex) Red Bull 1:29.846
3. Charles Leclerc (Mon) Ferrari 1:30,000
4. Carlos Sainz Jr. (Spa) Ferrari 1:30.154
5. Fernando Alonso (Spa) Aston Martin 1:30.336
6. George Russell (Gbr) Mercedes GP 1:30.340
7. Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) Mercedes GP 1:30.384
8. Lance Stroll (Cannon) Aston Martin 1:30.836
9. Esteban Ocon (Fra) Alpine 1:30.984
10. Nico Hulkenberg (D) MoneyGram Haas F1 1:30.809
11. Lando Norris (Gbr) McLaren 1:31.381
12. Valtteri Bottas (Finn) Alfa Romeo F1 Team Race 1:31.443
13. Guanyu Zhou (Chn) Alfa Romeo F1 Team Race 1:31.473
14. Yuki Tsunoda (Jpn) Scuderia AlphaTauri 1:32.510
15. Alexander Albon (Tha) Williams 1:31.461
16. Logan Sargeant (USA) Williams 1:31.652
17. Kevin Magnussen (Den) MoneyGram Haas F1 1:31.892
18. Oscar Piastri (Aus) McLaren 1:32.101
19. Nyck de Vries (Ned) Scuderia AlphaTauri 1:32.121
20. Pierre Gasly (Fra) Alpine 1:32.181

---

Bahrain Grand Prix qualifying as it happened