Max Verstappen powers to Bahrain Grand Prix pole as George Russell struggles in Malaysia

Max Verstappen rolled backmost the years to seal a ascendant rod presumption for Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix.

The contention is taking spot successful Malaysia owed to the unrest successful the Middle East earlier successful the year, and it was Verstappen who capitalised to seal archetypal spot connected the grid.

Verstappen finished 0.298 seconds up of Lewis Hamilton, who was delighted with 2nd spot successful the Ferrari arsenic it marks his archetypal quality connected the beforehand enactment since his triumph successful Barcelona successful June.

Isack Hadjar, successful the 2nd Red Bull, qualified 3rd fastest, but a five-place grid punishment volition spot Championship person Kimi Antonelli promoted into third.

However, the young Italian volition beryllium disappointed to person been 0.501 seconds slower than Verstappen.

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Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are fourth, 5th and sixth connected the grid respectively, but determination was vexation for George Russell who has not built connected his triumph successful Azerbaijan past week.

George Russell seventh connected grid for Bahrain Grand Prix

Qualifying 0.741 seconds slower than Verstappen, Russell volition commencement successful seventh and requires a accelerated commencement to enactment unit connected his teammate Antonelli for the title.

Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto implicit the apical 10.

Further down the field, determination was encouragement for Fernando Alonso, who enactment his Aston Martin successful 12th spot connected the grid, portion teammate Lance Stroll volition statesman successful 14th position.

The starting grid for the Bahrain Grand Prix successful Malaysia ????#F1 #BahrainGP pic.twitter.com/r4COJmQaaJ