MCLAREN’S OSCAR PIASTRI claimed pole position for the Bahrain Grand Prix with George Russell’s Mercedes completing the front row for the fourth race of the season.
Series leader Lando Norris, in the other McLaren, is back in the third row with world champion Max Verstappen facing a tough time on Sunday from the fourth row.
Ferrari introduced upgrades this weekend and they appeared to have had the desired effect with Charles Leclerc on the second row with for company Mercedes’ gifted rookie Kimi Antonelli.
Alpine are the only team to remain pointless but that could soon change with Pierre Gasly posting the fifth quickest qualifying time to start on the third row with Norris.
Norris leads Verstappen by just one point going into Sunday’s nocturnal showdown in the desert.
But the omens look good for Piastri with pole-sitters accounting for four of the last five winners in Sakhir.
The Australian has been in dominant form so far this weekend, bossing practice.
“I felt confident out there all weekend. FP3 we had good pace, and Qualifying – the others caught up a little closer than I wanted, but I delivered the laps when it mattered so very, very happy.
“I have to get to Turn 1 in first so let’s see what happens but I’ve felt comfortable all weekend. I can’t thank the team enough for the car they have given me.”
Norris cut a dejected figure, saying: “I’m just not quick enough”.
For Piastri, placed third in the championship 13 points behind his teammate, this was only his second ever pole, the first coming in China last month when he went on to win.
them Brits are always late
ha ha.
excellent Cornelius. true that.
if he wins it on the last shot though he’ll be as Irish as myself.
Unlike us punctual Irish!!!!
According to Skysports he’s now Irish again :)
Of course he’s Irish, Jason, Europe is losing!!!!
He was watching the All-Ireland Hurling Final!!!!
Surely in the scenario described he would have been an hour early with Chicago being an hour behind the eastern coast. Unless the earth spins in the opposite direction stateside….
If its 10am in Chicago it’s 11am on the east coast….
Mr crow u beat me to it! silly brits with their tardiness ;)
Cornellius and maverick. You are ignorant gits.
Are all Rorys slow today? Twas a joke. Declan summed it up by what i meant.
sense of humor by pass for Rory Conway !!
@Alan you must be from Leitrim I’m guessing and you support Liverpool and you have a dislike for snobby c@@nts who play golf… All combining to show why you hate 3 champions ie Kilkenny, Man United and McIlroy
lol, probably. would rather go and watch shels than man utd and spend friday night under lights on the driving range with a bunch of other people who kit themselves out from car boot sales and who couldnt hit a wall with a tractor
Man United.. Champions? I think you must have time warped in from 1999??
You don’t know Leitrim people, we laugh at your silly comments!!!!
for some unknown reason some sports people really annoy me. i cant figure out why. mcilory seems a real tosser. i couldnt care less what he does or doesnt achieve. same with alex feguson, wayne rooney, brian cody and others
If Europe wins he’s British , if they lose he’s Irish . Wait till you see.
“eastern seaboard time”? Lads, it’s called Eastern Standard Time in winter and Eastern Daylight Time in the summer…..
Ten minutes is the the time most golfers turn up for their tee time, no big deal.