Formula 1’s 2024 season is well underway as the teams prepare for Saturday’s race with the noise surrounding Christian Horner refusing to fade.

Friday’s action in Bahrain saw Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz top the leaderboard in the third free practice session to set up a Ferrari-Red Bull clash in qualifying. McLaren’s Lando Norris also found some quick pace though the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell were unable to maintain their strong showing from Thursday.

In qualifying, Max Verstappen won the battle against Ferrari and finished on pole thanks to an improved lap time of 1:29:179 beating out Charles Leclerc by 0.228 seconds. Hamilton starts in P9 though teammate Russell had a storming final lap to clinch P3 and will be in with a chance of challenging the leaders today. Sergio Perez and Fernando Alonso round out the top five.

Elsewhere, Christian Horner drew the media’s attention again after Whatsapps allegedly sent by him to a female colleague were leaked to the press, in what could be an embarrassing development for the Red Bull team principal who had previous been investigated and cleared over alleged ’inappropriate behaviour’.

Follow updates from the Bahrain Grand Prix with The Independent:

F1 BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX - RACE UPDATES

• Max Verstappen wins the Bahrain Grand Prix; Perez 2nd; Sainz 3rd

• Click HERE for the top-10 in Bahrain

• LAP 18/57: Carlos Sainz moves up the order to third

• LAP 7/57: Sergio Perez overtakes Charles Leclerc with ease

• LAP 3/57: George Russell takes second place from Leclerc

• LAP 1/57: Max Verstappen keeps the lead from the start

• Christian Horner latest: Geri hand in hand with husband on F1 grid at Bahrain race

Patrica Evra cuts short F1 grid interview with Martin Brundle to embrace Neymar

18:43 , Kieran Jackson

Ex-Manchester United footballer Patrice Evra cut short his interview with Martin Brundle on the F1 grid in Bahrain to embrace Brazilian star Neymar at the Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday.

Brudle performed his famous grid walk on Sky Sports at the season-opening race in Bahrain, with Evra one of the first celebrities he encountered.

Wearing a bright pink suit, the Frenchman admitted: “My wife hated it [the suit] but I love it!”

He then added “We are in Bahrain, I love the race” - before he swerved away from the camera to greet ex-Barcelona and PSG star Neymar, leaving Brundle to move on with his grid walk.

Full report below:

Patrica Evra cuts short F1 grid interview with Martin Brundle to embrace Neymar

Lewis Hamilton after finishing seventh:

17:47 , Kieran Jackson

“Physically I feel great. Probably feel some disappointment in the team, thought we’d be better then we were today.

“Degradation was high with the car, plenty of areas where we can improve. Further back than we thought from the Red Bulls.

What can you take to Saudi? “Car is reliable! It was a struggle in the car... I was giving everything, but there wasn’t a lot of performance there. The last stint was good. There’s lots that we can improve on.”

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: Charles Leclerc...

17:32 , Kieran Jackson

“I couldn’t go around turn nine or ten for the first few laps, lock every lap. A very frustrating race, I’ve been waiting for it for a long time, we were completely out of place. The car in general wasn’t where I wanted it to be,

“It still felt horrible.”

Max Verstappen on top of the podium!

17:21 , Kieran Jackson

It’s been three months since we’ve heard the Dutch-Austrian national anthem combination - but it’s back!

And it won’t be the last time.

Christian and Geri Horner are among the spectators looking up at the podium...

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: Carlos Sainz...

17:14 , Kieran Jackson

“I felt really good out there today, I was keeping up with the Red Bull which was a pleasant surprise, still not enough - but a solid start to the season.

“We had a very clear plan.

“It’ll be a surprise to see where we are [in Saudi], Red Bull and McLaren will be competitive, hopefully we can be strong.”

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: Sergio Perez after finishing second...

17:06 , Kieran Jackson

“It was the maximum we could have achieved. Tricky race with the management of the tyres, a lot to learn for the championship.”

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: Max Verstappen after his 55th grand prix win

17:01 , Kieran Jackson

“Unbelievable. The car was really nice to drive on every compound. We really stayed out of trouble, great start to the year - it could not have been better.”

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: Carlos Sainz

16:55 , Kieran Jackson

“We could not keep up with the Red Bulls, it’s a good start - good test, good preparation and we go for more.”

Sainz also wins the driver of the day, as voted by the fans.

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: Max Verstappen...

16:48 , Kieran Jackson

“Couldn’t have asked for more, thank you!” beams Verstappen.

A second win in a row in Bahrain.

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: TOP-10

16:43 , Kieran Jackson

1. Max Verstappen

2. Sergio Perez

3. Carlos Sainz

4. Charles Leclerc

5. George Russell

6. Lando Norris

7. Lewis Hamilton

8. Oscar Piastri

9. Fernando Alonso

10. Lance Stroll

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: Max Verstappen wins the Bahrain Grand Prix!

16:36 , Kieran Jackson

A cruise once again for the reigning world champion!

He got off the line quickly and has not looked back! 25 points and an extra point for the fastest lap - as he wins the first race of the season by 22 seconds.

2. Sergio Perez (+22.508)

3. Carlos Sainz (+2.658)

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: Lando Norris gradually catching George Russell (Lap 55/57)

16:33 , Kieran Jackson

From 2.5 secs to 1.8 seconds between George Russell in fifth and Lando Norris in sixth.

Could we get a late move with three laps to go?

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: Top-10 looks pretty set (Lap 52/57)

16:30 , Kieran Jackson

No car is within two seconds of the one in front in the top-10... the order is quite set now.

Further back, Yuki Tsunoda not happy at being told to swap with team-mate Daniel Ricciardo, with Kevin Magnussen in front of the Japanese driver.

However, they’ve all been caught by Max Verstappen - the race-leader - who is now 20 seconds out in front.

Under five laps to go now.

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: George Russell makes a mistake! (Lap 48/57)

16:21 , Kieran Jackson

The Mercedes driver - under pressure from Charles Leclerc - does a Leclerc and locks up at turn 10!

That allows the Ferrari to pass him for P4.

10 laps to go, here’s the top 10:

1. Verstappen

2. Perez

3. Sainz

4. Leclerc

5. Russell

6. Norris

7. Hamilton

8. Piastri

9. Stroll

10. Alonso

And no retirements yet!

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: Max Verstappen sets the fastest lap (Lap 42/57)

16:13 , Kieran Jackson

A 1:32 - two seconds quicker than Charles Leclerc, the previous fastest lap holder!

A maximum 26 points coming the Dutchman’s way.

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: Max Verstappen pits (Lap 38/57)

16:08 , Kieran Jackson

Max Verstappen pits with a 41-second lead - and comes out 16 seconds in front!

He is barely seeing another car on track is the Red Bull driver.

The battles behind him are a bit better: Sainz is 1.7 seconds behind Perez in second, while Leclerc is just 1.5 seconds behind Russell in fourth.

Top-10: Verstappen, Perez, Sainz, Russell, Leclerc, Norris, Hamilton, Alonso, Piastri, Stroll

Just under 20 laps to go...

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton undercuts Oscar Piastri (Lap 36/57)

16:02 , Kieran Jackson

Hamilton comes into the pits and, a lap later, he jumps Oscar Piastri who pitted himself!

The McLaren did his best to hold off Hamilton at turn 1, but slid wide on cold tyres to allow Hamilton in.

Hamilton up to P7.

Top-10: Verstappen, Perez (+18.776), Sainz, Russell, Leclerc, Alonso, Norris, Hamilton, Piastri, Albon

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: George Russell pits (Lap 33/57)

15:58 , Kieran Jackson

2.9 sec stop for the Mercedes man for this second stop.

He drops down to ninth.... how will that play into the battle for the podium?

Valtteri Bottas, meanwhile, encounters an issue with his pit stop. Something to do the wheel nut - and he drops down to P19 with a 52-second stop!

Only Logan Sargeant behind him.

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: Max Verstappen continues to extend his lead (Lap 30/57)

15:51 , Kieran Jackson

Cruise control for the reigning world champion.

In the same machinery, Max Verstappen extends his lead to 15 seconds from team-mate Sergio Perez in second.

Perez is maintaining a two-second lead to Carlos Sainz in third, with George Russell now eight seconds down the road in fourth.

5-10: Leclerc, Norris, Piastri, Hamilton, Alonso, Tsunoda

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton...

15:45 , Kieran Jackson

“My seat is broken,” says Hamilton. More issues for Mercedes!

He’s down in eighth at the moment is the seven-time world champion. Russell, in fourth, managing a power unit issue at the moment too...

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: Sergio Perez has a radio problem (Lap 23/57)

15:42 , Kieran Jackson

“You need to shout mate, I can’t hear you!” says Perez to his race engineer!

Perez now 9.4 secs behind Verstappen out in front.

Top-10: Verstappen, Perez, Sainz, Russell, Leclerc, Norris, Piastri, Hamilton, Alonso, Zhou

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: Carlos Sainz now up to third! (Lap 18/57)

15:35 , Kieran Jackson

Sainz keeps on making moves!

Turn 4 the destination this time as, with DRS, Sainz overtakes Russell down the outside.

Charles Leclerc, meanwhile, complaining it’s “s*** dangerous” in his Ferrari right now, which is moving to the right when he brakes!

Hamilton also moaning about a lack of battery power in his Mercedes.

Max Verstappen pits - 2.9 secs - and no problem for the Dutchman, as he has a 5.6 sec lead to team-mate Sergio Perez in second.

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: Carlos Sainz retakes fourth from Charles Leclerc!

15:33 , Kieran Jackson

Sainz left it late in turn one - but gets it done to move past Leclerc again!

Leclerc complaining about his brakes, given he is constantly locking his front wheels!

Top-10: Verstappen, Perez, Russell, Sainz, Leclerc, Norris, Piastri, Hamilton, Alonso, Zhou

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: Carlos Sainz misses out to his team-mate in the pits (Lap 15/57)

15:31 , Kieran Jackson

Sainz comes into the pits a few laps later than his team-mate - but he falls back behind Leclerc!

Perez also surges past George Russell for de facto 2nd, as the Red Bulls now lead the way here.

The only driver yet to pit? Max Verstappen, who has a 30-second lead.

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: George Russell and Charles Leclerc pit (Lap 12/57)

15:24 , Kieran Jackson

First round of pit stops incoming!

Decent stops for Russell, who stays in front of Leclerc in the pits - and drops down to P12.

Here comes Perez and Hamilton into the pits too...

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: Carlos Sainz overtakes his team-mate! (Lap 11/57)

15:23 , Kieran Jackson

Hell of a move by Carlos Sainz on his Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc!

The Spaniard surges down the inside at turn one and makes the move brilliantly!

They almost touched... but not twice.

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: Logan Sargeant goes off the track (Lap 10/57)

15:21 , Kieran Jackson

Not sure what happened to the Williams - but he stays off the track in sector one for about 30 seconds before regaining power and rejoining the race.

No safety car.

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: Sergio Perez overtakes Charles Leclerc (Lap 7/57)

15:16 , Kieran Jackson

Leclerc drops down further!

Think he’s struggling with his rear tyres, as Sergio Perez launches down the inside of Charles Leclerc heading into turn 11 after the Ferrari locks up at turn 10 - and it’s a comfortable move for the Mexican!

The Red Bull now up to P3.

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: McLarens move past Fernando Alonso (Lap 6/57)

15:14 , Kieran Jackson

So the McLarens and the Mercedes showing good race pace, with Norris and Piastri moving above Alonso for sixth and seventh.

Lewis Hamilton is next behind Alonso in eighth.

George Russell is staving off Leclerc in third, but is now 4.5 secs behind race leader Max Verstappen - who is coasting already!

Top-10: Verstappen, Russell, Leclerc, Perez, Sainz, Norris, Piastri, Alonso, Hamilton, Tsunoda

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: George Russell overtakes Charles Leclerc!

15:09 , Kieran Jackson

Terrific move from George Russell, who takes Charles Leclerc into turn four and takes second place with it!

Did the Ferrari make a mistake?

Top-10 after three laps: Verstappen, Russell, Leclerc, Perez, Sainz, Norris, Alonso, Piastri, Hamilton, Tsunoda

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: DRS enabled

15:07 , Kieran Jackson

New for this year - DRS is enabled after just one lap instead of two!

Leclerc, however is already outside of that.

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: Max Verstappen keeps the lead at turn one!

15:05 , Kieran Jackson

Terrific start from Max Verstappen off the line, who holds off an ambitious challenge on the outside from Charles Leclerc!

George Russell just holds off Sergio Perez to keep third.

Front wing damage for Hulkenberg, who has dropped from sixth to 19th! There was an incident at turn one in the midfield...

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: Formation lap!

15:02 , Kieran Jackson

All 20 drivers on the soft tyre as we get underway with the formation lap.

Will anyone challenge Verstappen down into turn one?

Here we go then!

A reminder of the grid for the Bahrain Grand Prix:

14:58 , Kieran Jackson

1. Max Verstappen

2. Charles Leclerc

3. George Russell

4. Carlos Sainz

5. Sergio Perez

6. Fernando Alonso

7. Lando Norris

8. Oscar Piastri

9. Lewis Hamilton

10. Nico Hulkenberg

11. Yuki Tsunoda

12. Lance Stroll

13. Alex Albon

14. Daniel Ricciardo

15. Kevin Magnussen

16. Valtteri Bottas

17. Zhou Guanyu

18. Logan Sargeant

19. Esteban Ocon

20. Pierre Gasly

Guenther Steiner secures new job in F1 after Haas exit

14:55 , Sonia Twigg

And a reminder about Steiner:

Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner will return to work in F1 as a pundit for German broadcaster RTL.

Steiner lost his job at Haas in January after eight seasons leading the American team in Formula 1, with team owner Gene Haas opting for a change with trackside engineering director Ayao Komatsu promoted to team boss.

Yet Steiner, known for his colourful language and entertaining appearances on Netflix’s Drive to Survive, has now found a new job with RTL, who broadcast F1 in Germany.

Former Haas principal says who he believes will be the race winner

14:52 , Sonia Twigg

Guenther Steiner to Sky Sports: “It’s good to be here, I wasn’t supposed to be here two weeks ago.”

When asked who his money was on Steiner said: “Max.”

Lando Norris starting in P7

14:50 , Sonia Twigg

Lando Norris has spoken to Sky Sports: “I mean we’re just in a pack that is very close, but I made a mistake and paid the price and I was seventh. It can easily go our way, it can easily go someone else’s way but it should be exciting.

“If things go in our way, there are a lot of cars that we have to overtake (to get podium) and especially the Red Bulls and the Ferraris are very strong so...”

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: Winner odds!

14:44 , Kieran Jackson

Max Verstappen - 2/13

Charles Leclerc - 9/1

Sergio Perez, George Russell - 20/1

Carlos Sainz - 25/1

Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton - 40/1

Lando Norris - 50/1

Oscar Piastri - 66/1

Odds provided by Grosvenor Casinos

Nico Hulkenberg starting in P6:

14:39 , Kieran Jackson

“I feel good that the season starts, optimistic that the Sunday will be better than last year, excited to see what we can do today.

“Hopeful for a bit more performance.”

A standout performance from the German in qualifying.

Max Verstappen after securing pole position:

14:34 , Kieran Jackson

“A lot of fun, the track had a lot of grip. Very happy to be on pole - to be honest it was a little bit unexpected but luckily the car came to us.

“We needed to fine tune a few little things to get that balance. We could really push with the car and another step in qualifying.

“The race is going to be close as well. I’m confident we can have a strong race!”

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: What time is the race?

14:30 , Kieran Jackson

(All times GMT)

Saturday 2 March

• Race: 3pm

How can I watch it online and on TV?

The Bahrain Grand Prix will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom - and ESPN in the United States.

Highlights of qualifying in the UK will be aired on free-to-air Channel 4 at 7:30pm (GMT) on Friday; the race highlights are at 7:50pm (GMT) on Saturday.

George Russell, who starts P3 today:

14:27 , Kieran Jackson

“I’m feeling good. We’ve had two months off, you’ve had the qualifying nerves and you’ve got the anxiety of what’s going to come. To get P3 was a great result for the team.

“If there’s an opportunity on lap one, turn one, I’ll go for it no doubt. If we don’t get Max then, then he’ll be off into the distance.”

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: Max Verstappen takes temporary spotlight off Christian Horner with pole position

14:19 , Kieran Jackson

Qualifying report

Max Verstappen temporarily took the spotlight off team boss Christian Horner by putting his Red Bull on pole position for the opening round of the new Formula One season in Bahrain.

The build-up to the first race of the campaign has totally been overshadowed by allegations whirling around Horner.

The 50-year-old was exonerated by Red Bull Racing parent’s company, Red Bull GmbH, following an internal probe into “inappropriate behaviour” against a female colleague on Wednesday – before hundreds of WhatsApp messages appearing to be written by him were leaked to the F1 world a day later.

However, Horner, who has always denied any wrongdoing and remains in his role, was on the world champions’ pit wall here in Bahrain to see Verstappen claim his first pole of a season in which he is expected to romp to his fourth consecutive world championship in his all-conquering Red Bull machine.

But the triple world champion was made to work for the 33rd pole of his career under the thousands of bulbs that light up the Sakhir Circuit with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc second, two-tenths back.

Full report below:

Verstappen takes temporary spotlight off Horner with pole position in Bahrain

F1 grid: Starting positions for Bahrain Grand Prix

14:11 , Kieran Jackson

What is the starting grid?

1. Max Verstappen

2. Charles Leclerc

3. George Russell

4. Carlos Sainz

5. Sergio Perez

6. Fernando Alonso

7. Lando Norris

8. Oscar Piastri

9. Lewis Hamilton

10. Nico Hulkenberg

11. Yuki Tsunoda

12. Lance Stroll

13. Alex Albon

14. Daniel Ricciardo

15. Kevin Magnussen

16. Valtteri Bottas

17. Zhou Guanyu

18. Logan Sargeant

19. Esteban Ocon

20. Pierre Gasly

Charles Leclerc annoyed with Ferrari for ‘compromising’ final stage of Bahrain GP qualifying

14:03 , Kieran Jackson

Charles Leclerc showed his exasperation with Ferrari at “compromising” his final runs in qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Leclerc was right in contention for top spot in the first qualifying session of the season, alongside team-mate Carlos Sainz and Verstappen.

However, the Monegasque only finished second in the end – two-tenths of a second slower than Verstappen – and was “disappointed” given pole position was within his reach.

Leclerc referenced an earlier team error in Q1, when his Ferrari team unnecessarily sent him out on a new set of soft tyres, meaning he only had one set for his final two runs of Q3.

Full piece below:

Leclerc annoyed with Ferrari for ‘compromising’ final stage of Bahrain GP qualifying

A reminder of the starting grid for the Bahrain Grand Prix

14:15 , Kieran Jackson

1. Max Verstappen

2. Charles Leclerc

3. George Russell

4. Carlos Sainz

5. Sergio Perez

6. Fernando Alonso

7. Lando Norris

8. Oscar Piastri

9. Lewis Hamilton

10. Nico Hulkenberg

11. Yuki Tsunoda

12. Lance Stroll

13. Alex Albon

14. Daniel Ricciardo

15. Kevin Magnussen

16. Valtteri Bottas

17. Zhou Guanyu

18. Logan Sargeant

19. Esteban Ocon

20. Pierre Gasly

NEW: Geri Halliwell appears hand in hand with Christian Horner in the paddock

13:48 , Kieran Jackson

F1 2024 season predictions: World champion, biggest shock, and who will replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes?

13:42 , Kieran Jackson

Another Formula One off season has come and gone – with its fair share of dramatic stories – but now we are set to go racing once again.

This Saturday’s season opener in Bahrain is the first of a record-breaking 24 races in 2024, which sees the season stretch from Bahrain GP practice on 29 February to the finale in Abu Dhabi on 8 December.

Max Verstappen is the unquestionable favourite to claim his fourth straight world championship this year, with Red Bull winning 21 out of 22 races last year and the likes of Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren all playing catch up.

But will there be a surprise in store? Can anyone make the jump up into the midfield contenders? And how will a fascinating driver market develop throughout the year?

F1 2024 predictions: Biggest shock and who will replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes?

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: Damon Hill on the Christian Horner saga

13:35 , Kieran Jackson

“In some ways the team manager’s job at a race meeting is to deal with crises, so in effect he’s got his own crises and the indications are that it’s also unsettled something in the team regarding his role in the team which is obviously something that will affect their long-term performance.

“They don’t want that, they want to keep the ship steady, especially as they’ve had so much success.

“From a driver’s point of view and a team point of view and an engineer’s point of view, they can just get on with their jobs.

“Normally they come to Christian (Horner) if there is something they have to argue over with the stewards or the organisers, of course he will be able to do that, and he will still do that but it will be a massive distraction.”

F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: Max Verstappen takes temporary spotlight off Christian Horner with pole position

13:29 , Kieran Jackson

Qualifying report

Max Verstappen temporarily took the spotlight off team boss Christian Horner by putting his Red Bull on pole position for the opening round of the new Formula One season in Bahrain.

The build-up to the first race of the campaign has totally been overshadowed by allegations whirling around Horner.

The 50-year-old was exonerated by Red Bull Racing parent’s company, Red Bull GmbH, following an internal probe into “inappropriate behaviour” against a female colleague on Wednesday – before hundreds of WhatsApp messages appearing to be written by him were leaked to the F1 world a day later.

However, Horner, who has always denied any wrongdoing and remains in his role, was on the world champions’ pit wall here in Bahrain to see Verstappen claim his first pole of a season in which he is expected to romp to his fourth consecutive world championship in his all-conquering Red Bull machine.

But the triple world champion was made to work for the 33rd pole of his career under the thousands of bulbs that light up the Sakhir Circuit with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc second, two-tenths back.

Full report below:

Verstappen takes temporary spotlight off Horner with pole position in Bahrain

Can anyone stop this man today?

13:23 , Kieran Jackson

Max Verstappen starts on pole, as he looks to start the 2024 season in style with victory.

Lewis Hamilton after qualifying P9 for today's race:

13:15 , Kieran Jackson

NEW: Geri set to appear on the grid in Bahrain

13:10 , Kieran Jackson

Bright and early, Christian Horner arrived at the paddock in Bahrain for the first race of this season this afternoon, starting at 3pm (GMT).

Notably, wife Geri Halliwell was not present with him. But reports indicate that the Spice Girl pop star will be present on the grid in support of her husband this afternoon.

Watch this space!

Christian Horner – latest: Geri set to appear on F1 grid in support of husband at GP