THE SAKHIR GRAND PRIX is taking place this weekend – but there’s no Lewis Hamilton.
The reigning champion has tested positive for coronavirus and been replaced by fellow Brit George Russell for Mercedes.
- Qualifying time: Saturday, 5pm
- Race time: Sunday, 5.15pm
Follow ALL of the latest updates below…
TIME FOR TIMES
Here’s how the entire pack shook down today.
DAN THE MAN
Daniil Kvyat is sixth and tells Sky Sport ‘I liked it’.
The Alpha Tauri ace calls his ‘consistent’ run the ‘best qualifying of the year for me’.
Like Sergio Perez, he predicts a ‘big train’ on the track tomorrow.
PEREZ FIFTH
Sergio Perez telling Sky Sports about the ‘unknowns’ drivers face tomorrow.
With it ‘difficult to overtake’ he is prioritising ‘making it to the end’ after his late heartbreak last time out.
He starts fifth.
THUMBS UP
George Russell looks happy with his qualifying.
He has been in superb form on Saturdays for Williams so tomorrow is going to be very interesting for the young Brit.
Credit: Getty Images – Getty
CHARLES CHUFFED
Ferrari have a car on fourth tomorrow and Charles Leclerc is delighted with his performance talking to Sky Sports.
Having just one set of Softs for Q3, he wanted to go early in case traffic was a ‘mess’ and to ‘get out on track and do the job’.
He says he ‘couldn’t have done anything better’ – and he’s probably right.
ROMAIN RETURNS
An aside from qualy – here is Romain Grosjean getting reacquainted with his Haas.
The Frenchman is still keen to race in next week’s Abu Dhabi GP as he recovers from hand and foot injuries.
VERSTAPPEN OPTIMISTIC
Max Verstappen wants Red Bull to have ‘a bit of fun’ tomorrow with ‘nothing to lose’.
He promises an ‘interesting’ race with Red Bull ‘a bit closer than normal’.
MERCS DOMINATE
George Russell saying he hasn’t started a race without any drivers in front of him off the grid ‘for a long long time’.
RUSSELL STILL LEARNING
The man in P2 describes the ‘incredibly intense’ session and the ‘alien’ feel he has had in the Merc.
But he is ‘very pleased’ to get so close to Valtteri Bottas.
‘NOT MY BEST’
Valtteri Bottas a tad disappointed with is run – which he calls ‘not his best’ qualifying.
REST OF THE PACK
An intriguing grid will line up with Sergio Perez fifth and another man soon to be out of F1, Daniil Kvyat, sixth.
Daniel Ricciardo is seventh before Carlos Sainz, Pierre Gasly and Lance Stroll.
Q3 COMPLETE
Valtteri Bottas muted in his celebrations as he exits the car, knowing he will have two very talented young drivers on his backside tomorrow evening.
George Russell with a great performance in second and Max Verstappen wondering what might have been in third.
Charles Leclerc arguably the driver of the day as he clocks fourth.
BOTTAS P1
That was mighty, mighty close!
Just 0.056 seconds from first to third, where Max Verstappen will start.
‘Nice to be on pole’ says a droll Valtteri Bottas over radio.
Q3: RUSSELL SECOND, BOTTAS POLE!
George Russell is 0.026 seconds off Valtteri Bottas who takes pole!
Q3: TIME’S UP
Valtteri Bottas cannot improve!
Q3: NOT GREAT FROM THE MERCS
Neither man can improve their Sector 1 times…
Q3: 1 MIN TO GO
The Mercs are again first out so we will get their times first in just over a minute.
Valtteri Bottas could give George Russell a tow, with Max Verstappen on the Brit’s tail.
Q3: HERE WE GO
The final runs of the day are underway…
Valtteri Bottas leads George Russell, Max Verstappen, the finished Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez in the fight for pole.
Q3: FERRARI FINISHED
Charles Leclerc looks to be done with his only fresh Softs used up – he sits fourth as things stand.
Q3: 3 MINS TO GO
The pack is back in the pits now.
Daniil Kvyat and Pierre Gasly bringing up the rear with Lance Stroll eighth, Carlos Sainz seventh and Daniel Ricciardo sixth.
Q3: BOTTAS TAKES P1
Okay, there we go.
Valtteri Bottas goes top by 0.2 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen.
George Russell is a blink behind to shove the Dutchman off the front row.
Q3: MERCS GO AGAIN
The Mercedes probably did that run on used tyres as they are heading out again immediately.
That will mean two hot laps each on fresh Softs.
Q3: 7 MINS TO GO
Don’t forget Sergio Perez…
The Racing Point cannot match Max Verstappen though and is 0.2 seconds back in fourth.
Lance Stroll goes eighth.
Q3: LECLERC SECOND
That is a surprise – Charles Leclerc puts his Ferrari second!
Just 0.022 seconds separate the front two.
George Russell is 0.381 back in fourth…
Q3: FIRST POINT TO MAX
A 53.760 from Valtteri Bottas isn’t enough!
Max Verstappen is just under two-tenths quicker to take provisional pole…
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
