Despite P4 for Albon, 'Verstappen will be alone in the fight against Mercedes'

Red Bull Racing have the second-row to themselves after qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix. Still, the difference in time between Max Verstappen and Alexander Albon was considerable with almost eight tenths. Robert Doornbos therefore does not think that Albon can play any significant support role in tomorrow's race.

“He sounded satisfied with P3," says Doornbos in his analysis of qualifying in the Ziggo Sport Studio. “He got more out of it than is in it. It is ultimately those three men; Hamilton, Bottas and Max, who are in a different league."

With that, he immediately makes the difference between Verstappen and Albon clear. Albon did take fourth-place, an achievement that he can be satisfied with after the crash on Friday, but in the race, Doornbos does not think that the British-Thai can follow his teammate. “He cannot play a role for Max in terms of strategy. If Max goes with the Mercedes tomorrow, he will be alone against those two men."