Audi Score First Pole, Norris Wins Back-to-Back Grands Prix

Qualifying:

Pos#DriverConstructorQ1Q2Diff.
156Einar ÁrmannssonAudi1:35.5021:34.576
239Sho TsuboiROOKIE-Toyota1:34.8661:34.637+0.061
320Kevin MagnussenAudi1:34.8781:35.063+0.302
437Victoria DesaiFerrari1:36.5181:36.344+1.768
547Lando NorrisCaterham-Judd1:36.5171:36.379+1.803
67Charles LeclercToyota1:36.9151:36.507+1.931
71Sebastian VettelCaterham-Judd1;36.7161:36.670+2.094
89Jehan DaruvalaROOKIE-Toyota1:36.2961:34.870+0.294*
910Alessio LorandiFerrari1:36.8411:37.025+2.265
1094Pascal WehrleinMRT-BMW1:37.9251:36.969+2.393
1199Sacha FenestrazToyota1:37.1431:37.399+2.567
1223Jules BianchiMRT-BMW1:37.5301:37.343+2.767
1380Raven RothAndretti-Ferrari1:37.6391:37.386+2.810
1463George RussellMcEwan-Judd1:37.5111:35.751+2.935
1598Colton HertaAndretti-Ferrari1:37.8761:37.638+3.092
1643Franco ColapintoWilliams-Ferrari1:38.2941:37.921+3.345
1746Alessandro Cicognani McEwan-Judd1:38.4321:38.268+3.692
1855Carlos Sainz, Jr.Aston Martin-Judd1:38.6811:38.617+4.041
1981Oscar PiastriAston Martin-Judd1:38.7561:18.863+4.180
2031Esteban OconDARE-Audi1:39.2371:39.094+4.518
212Stoffel VandoorneDARE-Audi1:39.2611:39.103+4.527
2233Max VerstappenRed Bull-Ferrari1:39.9311:39.342+4.766
2334Felipe DrugovichWilliams-Ferrari1:39.6421:39.351+4.775
2429Roger IbeRed Bull-Ferrari1:39.9321:40.158+5.536
254Robin FrijnsLoonmotor-Judd1:41.8071:41.482+6.906
2695Beitske VisserLoonmotor-Judd1:41.7561:41.741+7.165

* 5-place grid penalty for causing an avoidable accident

Report:

Sho Tsuboi and Victoria Desai were engaged in a heated battle for second behind Lando Norris.
With ideal racing conditions, the 20th anniversary of the addition of Bahrain to the Formula One calendar meant that fans could expect a thrilling race. Formula One’s drivers responded and delivered another banger in Bahrain.

After Einar Ármannsson scored the first pole position in the young history of Audi’s F1 team, a thrilling battle for the lead ensued once all drivers came in to take off their qualifying tyres, Sho Tsuboi failing to keep Lando Norris behind in the end.

As Lando Norris drove away in the lead, Victoria Desai and Sho Tsuboi battled all race for P2, the Indian eventually taking the flag. Ármannsson’s pole resulted in fourth place, a 4-5 for Audi continuing their strong start.

There was controversy in the lower-point sections. Alessio Lorandi finished sixth on track, but was demoted to eighth after a time penalty for a first-lap incident with Sebastian Vettel. The German was vocal about considering the penalty insufficient.

Race:

Pos#DriverConstructorTime/RetiredGridPoints
147Lando NorrisCaterham-Judd59:51.920510
237Victoria DesaiFerrari+16.96348
339Sho TsuboiROOKIE-Toyota+18.00626
456Einar ÁrmannssonAudi+30.08016
520Kevin MagnussenAudi+39.25834
680Raven RothAndretti-Ferrari+43.462133
763George RussellMcEwan-Judd+47.617142
810Alessio LorandiFerrari+41.428*91
91Sebastian VettelCaterham-Judd+55.0547
1046Alessandro CicognaniMcEwan-Judd+87.87717
1155Carlos Sainz, Jr.Aston Martin-Judd+95.22818
1294Pascal WehrleinMRT-BMW1 Lap10
1321Oscar PiastriAston Martin-Judd1 Lap19
1423Jules BianchiMRT-BMW1 Lap12
1529Roger IbeRed Bull-Ferrari1 Lap24
169Jehan DaruvalaROOKIE-Toyota1 Lap8
1733Max VerstappenRed Bull-Ferrari1 Lap22
1899Sacha FenestrazToyota1 Lap11
1995Beitske VisserLoonmotor-Judd1 Lap25
204Robin FrijnsLoonmotor-Judd1 Lap26
2131Esteban OconDARE-Audi2 Laps20
222Stoffel VandoorneDARE-Audi2 Laps21
DNF7Charles LeclercToyotaMotor6
DNF98Colton HertaAndretti-FerrariPuncture15
DNF43Franco ColapintoWilliams-FerrariMotor16
DNF34Felipe DrugovichWilliams-FerrariMotor23

* 10-second time penalty

Fastest Lap:

Lando Norris – 1:40.434

Infinite Improbability Drive Of The Race:

Pascal Wehrlein – was completely superior to his elite teammate and threatened the points in the early race.

Reject Of The Race:

Beitske Visser – after causing trouble in New Zealand, she now held up Victoria Desai in her battle for the lead.