The starting grid for the 2024 Bahrain Grand Prix will be as the 20 Formula drivers finished qualifying, with no penalties handed out by the stewards, meaning Max Verstappen will keep his 33rd career pole position.
That landmark puts him ahead of Nigel Mansell and draws Verstappen level with Jim Clark and Alain Prost – though there’s a big jump up to Sebastian Vettel – fourth in the all-time list on 57 poles.
And no matter how many the Dutchman takes in future he’ll likely always be behind Clark in at least one regard – the Scot took those pole positions in just 73 entries at a percentage of 45.21% while Verstappen took 186 races to reach that tally.
Charles Leclerc joins him on the front row as Ferrari‘s charge for pole faltered, and Carlos Sainz starts fourth alongside George Russell.
But the biggest surprise is on the fifth row of the grid – Lewis Hamilton was meant to be in that battle for the front row but made his setup too race-focussed compared to Russell while Nico Hulkenberg turned an expected Q1 exit into tenth place.
2024 Bahrain GP starting grid
| Pos | Driver | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull |
| 2 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari |
| 3 | George Russell | Mercedes |
| 4 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari |
| 5 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull |
| 6 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin |
| 7 | Lando Norris | McLaren |
| 8 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren |
| 9 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes |
| 10 | Nico Hulkenberg | Haas |
| 11 | Yuki Tsunoda | RB |
| 12 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin |
| 13 | Alex Albon | Williams |
| 14 | Daniel Ricciardo | RB |
| 15 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas |
| 16 | Valtteri Bottas | Sauber |
| 17 | Zhou Guanyu | Sauber |
| 18 | Logan Sargeant | Williams |
| 19 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine |
| 20 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine |
