Red Bull driver and reigning champion Max Verstappen secured pole position for the Bahrain Grand Prix, marking the start of the Formula 1 World Championship season. Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc will start from the front row. Mercedes driver George Russell placed third, ahead of Carlos Sainz of Ferrari in fourth. The Bahrain race, along with the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix scheduled in Jeddah the following week, will take place on Saturday to allow both countries to host the races before the start of Ramadan.