F1 Results Today: Bahrain Grand Prix qualifying times - Verstappen snatches pole with DRAMATIC comeback

Max Verstappen secured pole position with a stunning lap to close out qualifying at the Bahrain Grand Prix, but was run closer than many expected by Charles Leclerc.

The first competitive session of the 2024 Formula 1 season should give hope to fans hoping to avoid a repeat of last year's Red Bull dominance, with Max Verstappen outpaced by Carlos Sainz and Lance Stroll in Q1 in Bahrain before being beaten by Leclerc in Q2.

The Ferraris of Leclerc and Sainz in second and fourth were split by George Russell, whose team-mate Lewis Hamilton could only put his Mercedes eighth.

Last season's competitiveness appears to have - as expected - completely disappeared for Alpine though, their drivers finishing 19th and 20th in the session.

Pierre Gasly became the first - and far from the last - driver of the season to have a lap time deleted for exceeding track limits, getting his banker lap scrubbed within ten minutes of the session starting.

It was also a Friday to forget for Daniel Ricciardo who in the RB was eliminated in Q2 while also being beaten by team-mate Yuki Tsunoda.

READ MORE: F1 Bahrain Grand Prix weather forecast - strong winds to impact event

F1 Qualifying Results: Bahrain Grand Prix 2024

1. Max Verstappen [Red Bull] - 1:29.179sec

2. Charles Leclerc [Ferrari] - +0.228sec

3. George Russell [Mercedes] - +0.306sec

4. Carlos Sainz [Ferrari] - +0.328sec

5. Sergio Perez [Red Bull] - +0.358sec

6. Fernando Alonso [Aston Martin] - +0.363sec

7. Lando Norris [McLaren] - +0.435sec

8. Oscar Piastri [McLaren] - +0.504sec

9. Lewis Hamilton [Mercedes] - +0.531sec

10. Nico Hulkenberg [Haas] - +1.323sec

ELIMINATED IN Q2

11. Yuki Tsunoda [VCARB]

12. Lance Stroll [Aston Martin]

13. Alex Albon [Williams]

14. Daniel Ricciardo [VCARB]

15. Kevin Magnussen [Haas]

ELIMINATED IN Q1

16. Valtteri Bottas [Kick Sauber]

17. Zhou Guanyu [Kick Sauber]

18. Logan Sargeant [Williams]

19. Esteban Ocon [Alpine]

20. Pierre Gasly [Alpine]

How does F1 Qualifying work?

The 60-minute qualifying session is split into three finite windows which provides a dramatic prelude to Sunday's big race.

The bottom five drivers are eliminated at the end of Q1, with a further five eliminated after Q2.

Then Q3 gives us a shootout between the remaining 10 drivers in the battle for positions at the front of the grid.

READ MORE: F1 Schedule 2024: Full calendar with all you need to know about every grand prix

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