Oscar Piastri powers to Bahrain F1 GP pole but Norris and Verstappen flounder

Lando Norris to start sixth as McLaren teammate takes P1
Russell and Antonelli drop a place for Mercedes mistake

The expectations that McLaren would be strong for the Bahrain Grand Prix were proved in qualifying as Oscar Piastri claimed a powerful pole but their dominance was far from as complete as had been expected, with his teammate Lando Norris, the championship leader, managing only sixth.

Piastri was pushed hard by the Mercedes of George Russell who took a superb second place, with his teammate Kimi Antonelli equally impressive in fourth and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in third.