BBC F1 pundit stunned by what ‘lightning fast’ 26-y/o did ‘every time’ in Bahrain GP quali

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Max Verstappen stunned BBC F1 pundit Alice Powell with ‘every single’ lap through qualifying for the Bahrain GP en route to the first pole position in 2024 for Red Bull.

The 26-year-old was a cut above the rest of the grid in Sakhir to claim first position by 0.228 seconds to Charles Leclerc. A similar margin covered the Ferrari driver in second to McLaren ace Lando Norris in P7. Sergio Perez was also 0.358 seconds behind his Red Bull teammate.

Pole for the Bahrain GP further marked the 33rd time that Verstappen has topped qualifying in Formula 1. The three-time reigning drivers’ champion even equalled icons Alain Prost and Jim Clark as the fifth-highest-ranked drivers for the most pole positions in F1’s history so far.

Verstappen took pole for the 2024 Bahrain GP after a tow from Piastri

Verstappen sat on provisional pole as he started his final flying lap at the end of Q3 and got a nice tow from McLaren driver Oscar Piastri along the pit straight. The Red Bull racer pulled aside into the last corner to let the Australian complete his flying lap before tucking in close.

Piastri was wise to Verstappen’s antics and pulled out of the Dutchman’s route the moment he crossed the finish line. But the Red Bull driver had already gained a beneficial advantage. He would also set the fastest first sector time, which negated failing to improve in the third.

Verstappen stunned Powell throughout the Red Bull racer’s qualifying

Verstappen would only set his personal best time through the middle sector during his final flying lap, too. But the new-for-2024 RB20 carried Verstappen and Red Bull to the first pole position of the season at the Bahrain GP as Leclerc only shaved eight-tenths off his deficit.

Former GP3 and W-Series driver Powell could not fathom how Verstappen was always rapid in the first sector. Even though she recognised his brilliance for always finding a tow on the pit straight to open a lap in qualifying. Piastri would have given him a boost to secure pole.

“I don’t know what he’s doing in that first sector, there’s no one really close to him,” Powell said on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra. “He’s lightning fast.”

She added: “I’ve noticed every single time he has timed it perfectly to get behind a car and get a little bit of a tow, even though it’s not for the full length of the straight, just to help.”