Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer in Bahrain

Image source, Reuters

Max Verstappen led a Red Bull one-two as he took pole position for the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

The Dutchman beat team-mate Sergio Perez by 0.138 seconds, with the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz locking out the second row.

Fernando Alonso made an impressive start to his time at Aston Martin with fifth place, ahead of both Mercedes cars.

George Russell beat Lewis Hamilton to sixth place by just 0.044secs.

Read the full qualifying report here

Image source, Getty Images

No headline Saturday for Fernando Alonso and Aston Martin but the 41-year-old is in a decent position to be a thorn in the top teams' side tomorrow.

Constructors' champions Red Bull are celebrating two drivers at the front of the grid for the opening race of the 2023 season but can Max Verstappen turn pole position into a Bahrain Grand Prix victory?

You'll have to come back and join us on Sunday from 13:30 GMT to find out what the Dutchman can do.

Live radio commentary will be available from 14:45 GMT on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, the BBC Sounds app and at the top of the live text page.

See you tomorrow!

Kris: For all the promise of Q1 and Q2, that was quite an anti climatic Q3. Makes me slightly worried that for all the talk of a more competitive field, this season may still just be a breeze for Red Bull

Josh: Not an ideal quali for Mercedes and in particular Lewis. Hopefully tomorrow's race pace is better

David: I think it might be a smart move from Leclerc Extra set of new tyres and start 3rd, or start 2nd. Front row isn't critical.

McLaren will take their place P11 for Lando Norris and P18 for rookie Oscar Piastri.

Team boss Zak Brown has just tweeted his thoughts and says: "We're not where we or our fans want us to be, but time to stick together and fight for points in tomorrow's Bahrain Grand Prix."

Image source, Getty Images

Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton who starts in seventh on the grid: "I went in with a really open mind. Woke up this morning thinking we would be a lot further behind so getting to Q3 was great.

"A lot of work happened over night, all the engineers did a great job and we made a great step forward, and we were in a different place. When we got to qualifying the car just didn't feel alive. It felt really average.

"The direction I am going with my set-up I'm hoping works better for tomorrow but it made it a bit difficult for qualifying.

"It is not an impossible mountain to climb, and we can definitely close that gap. We've just got to focus."

JJ: Alonso has traditionally been stronger during the race, albeit we're talking margins of excellence. Much to look forward to tomorrow...

David: Mercedes and Aston Martin look neck and neck, should be a good race.

Image source, Getty Images

Charles Leclerc, who starts third on the grid for Ferrari: "No there was not any issue (with the car at the end of qualifying). I think we were in the fight for pole which was a good surprise to be honest. I did not expect that after testing and after the three practices which were a little bit difficult.

"We managed to find the pace, however we need to keep in mind that for the race run we seem to be a little bit on the back foot to Red Bull and I think we are better place starting in three with new tyres than starting further back with old.

"It was very close, Aston Martin was very quick, Mercedes was very quick. It is looking good for the future and makes Formula 1 much more exciting.

"In the race run we have a bit of weakness for now, having a new tyre will help us tomorrow and it's going in the right direction at least."

Red Bull's Sergio Perez, who starts second on the grid: "It was a really tight qualifying. I don't remember such a tight qualifying battle from Q1, Q2. You can not leave anything on the table to maximise your grid position.

"In the end, I wasn't totally comfortable with the balance. You can always improve a tenth on your lap but I think to get this start for the team is really special.

"We prepared much more to do the race. We have more of a Sunday race car underneath us. We knew we had to do some compromises for quali, which we ended up doing, which were not ideal but hopefully tomorrow we can have a very strong race car."

Image source, Getty Images

Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who takes the first pole position of the season: "It's been a bit of a tough start to the weekend and today not finding my rhythm but in qualifying we managed to put the best pieces together and of course very happy to be on pole. It's amazing and I'm looking forward for tomorrow.

"Compared to last year everyone knows a but more what they are doing with the car. the changes slowed down the car a bit but we are still going faster. Everyone is increasing their performances a lot.

"I was actually positively surprised being on pole after the struggles I had in practice.

"That's positive and our race car is better."

Image source, Getty Images

That was Max Verstappen's 21st pole position of his career.

The two-time world champion has never won at the Sakhir circuit. Is that stat going to change tomorrow?

Let's hear what the top three had to say...

Image source, Reuters

Pierre Gasly has a lot to do in his debut race for Alpine. The Frenchman props up Sunday's grid in 20th place.

In the end there was no fairytale qualifying for Fernando Alonso but Aston Martin will be pleased to be starting in the top five runners.

Image source, Formula 1 Twitter

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer

Alonso in fifth might be a disappointment for a lot of people but for Aston Martin, and him that is a huge leap forward.

A front-row lock-out for Red Bull at the opening race of the 2023 season, with the two Ferrari lining up just behind in third and fourth.

1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

2. Sergio Perez (Red Bull)

3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

4. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)

5. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

6. George Russell (Mercedes)

7. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

8. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)

9. Esteban Ocon (Alpine)

10. Nico Hulkenberg (Haas, lap time deleted)

Sam Bird
Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Live

It was a lot closer than what we thought but talk about an exciting qualifying session That really could have gone any way.

That had a lot of people fighting at the front.

We can't dismiss Sergio Perez in all of this but Max Verstappen extends his lead with a time of 1:29.708.

Jack Nicholls
BBC Radio 5 Live F1 commentator

Charles Leclerc is climbing out of his Ferrari and walking back to the garage, The man who was challenging for pole position is out.

That must be a technical problem - there is no chance Leclerc is choosing not to go out again.

This is looking like a first pole position of the season for Max Verstappen, unless Carlos Sainz can pull a rabbit out of the Ferrari hat in the closing stages.