Oscar Piastri Secures Pole Position for F1 Bahrain Grand Prix
Australian Formula 1 driver Oscar Piastri has secured his second career pole position, topping the qualifying session for the Bahrain Grand Prix, which takes place on Monday (AEST). According to a report by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), Piastri, driving for McLaren, produced a lap time of 1:29.841 to outpace Mercedes’ George Russell and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
The Melbourne-born driver was in impressive form on Saturday, having also topped the practice session earlier that day. "I feel like I’ve been comfortable all weekend, and there’s no better place to start than on pole," Piastri was quoted as saying by the ABC. "I can’t thank the team enough for the car they’ve given me, and I’m excited for the race tomorrow."
However, not all was smooth sailing for Piastri’s teammate, Lando Norris, who struggled to find his rhythm and could only manage sixth place on the grid. "I feel like I’ve just never driven an F1 car before," a frustrated Norris told the ABC. "I’m struggling a lot, I don’t know why. I need to try and find some answers." Despite Norris’s struggles, McLaren appears to be in a strong position, with Piastri and Norris having each won a grand prix and consistently setting competitive lap times throughout the weekend.
Meanwhile, Mercedes’ George Russell and teammate Kimi Antonelli were both penalised one grid place each for failing to follow the correct procedure when exiting the pits during the second qualifying session. As a result, Russell will start third, while Antonelli will begin from fifth. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, the defending champion, could only manage seventh place on the grid.
McLaren dominated the time sheets during both of Friday’s free practice sessions, with Piastri and Norris each topping a session. The team’s early season form appears to be continuing, and they will be looking to build on that momentum in the Bahrain Grand Prix. The ABC reports that Piastri and Norris each won a grand prix but had to settle for the minor podium places last week in Japan as Verstappen triumphed for Red Bull Racing.
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The Bahrain Grand Prix is set to take place on Monday (AEST), with Piastri starting from pole position and looking to convert his impressive qualifying form into a strong result. The ABC will provide live coverage of the event, and fans can stay tuned for all the latest updates and analysis.
