Mekies hails Red Bull gains but warns of race-pace test

Verstappen set a lap of 1:35.130, with Hamilton second for Ferrari on 1:35.428 and Red Bull’s Hadjar third on 1:35.558. The gaps to Verstappen were 0.298 and 0.428 seconds respectively. RacingNews365 described it as Verstappen’s first pole position of the season.

Qualifying was for the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, at Sepang.

Hadjar’s grid penalty means Antonelli moves up to third on the starting grid, despite Hadjar setting the third-fastest qualifying lap.

Update

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies says the team has closed a gap that troubled it on circuits with medium- and high-speed corners earlier this season. Speaking to Viaplay after Max Verstappen qualified first and Isack Hadjar third, he described the result as the first pole position for the Red Bull Ford power unit, RacingNews365 Nederland reports.

Mekies said a major upgrade introduced in Baku was followed by smaller changes this weekend. He credited work on both the chassis and engine for improving the car, while stressing that qualifying speed alone would not decide the race.

Mekies expects extreme heat and possibly the highest tyre wear of the season. He said Red Bull has the means to compete, but must carry its qualifying pace into Sunday’s race.