Motor racing-Verstappen leads Red Bull front row sweep in Bahrain

Formula One F1 - Bahrain Grand Prix - Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain - March 4, 2023 Red Bull's Max Verstappen celebrates after qualifying in pole position REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

MANAMA (Reuters) -Formula One world champion Max Verstappen showed Red Bull remained the team to beat by leading Sergio Perez to a front row sweep in qualifying for the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz were the closest challengers in third and fourth with evergreen charger Fernando Alonso fifth in what will be the 356th race of his career and first for Aston Martin.