Max Verstappen started his title defence by taking pole position for the Bahrain Grand Prix. The Dutchman, who is chasing a third successive world championship, converted pre-season form into reality by pipping team-mate Sergio Perez in a Red Bull lockout. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was third quickest, three-tenths off the pace. Fernando Alonso was fifth best for Aston Martin – while George Russell beat Mercedes partner Lewis Hamilton, fifth versus sixth, the gap four-hundredths between themselves, but six-tenths back from Verstappen. The pecking order conformed to general expectations with Red Bull top, followed by Ferrari, Aston Martin and Mercedes. Stroll ended up eighth – not a bad effort at all after the Canadian required surgery on his wrist following a bicycle accident a couple of weeks ago.

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