Verstappen not surprised: 'I always knew it'

Max Verstappen will start Sunday afternoon's Bahrain Grand Prix in second position. The Dutchman could not prevent Charles Leclerc from setting a faster time in qualifying and that did not surprise Verstappen at all.

Ferrari made a very positive impression in preseason and continued this line towards the first GP of the season. Whereas in the free practice sessions it was sorting out the last details, the Italian racing team managed to set the fastest time on Saturday afternoon, thereby securing pole position.

For Verstappen, it means that he will have to try to secure victory from second place. During the FIA press conference, which took place after qualifying, the reigning world champion revealed that he expects constant opposition from Ferrari in the coming period.

"I always knew it was going to be really close," Verstappen told the journalists present. "And it's really going to be about, you know, just the details because when you're that close, I think, between the teams then when you're really pushing to the limit in qualifying, it's all about just finding that last bit to really make a difference."

Mercedes finished with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell in fifth and ninth positions respectively.