The world champion lost the lead of the drivers’ championship after a fifth place finish in Canada.
After topping every practice session, Max Verstappen slipped to third on the grid for tomorrow’s race, but the Red Bull driver is optimistic about his chances.
Mercedes driver Bottas was narrowly pipped to pole position by Sebastian Vettel, but out-qualified team-mate Lewis Hamilton in qualifying for tomorrow’s Canadian Grand Prix.
In his home Grand Prix, Spaniard Sainz Jr. finished in seventh place and ahead of Fernando Alonso in the upgraded McLaren.
The Canadian driver started 18th and finished in 11th, just behind the Sauber of Charles Leclerc.
The Frenchman’s poor start to the season continued with a first-lap crash in Barcelona.
Lewis Hamilton secured pole position for the Spanish Grand Prix, as team-mate Valtteri Bottas was second quickest. Sebastian Vettel third with home favourite Fernando Alonso in eighth.
Mercedes driver Bottas was fastest in FP1, but fell back in the afternoon session, with the sixth quickest time.
McLaren has scored points in every race in 2018, but has lacked pace and will being a large upgrade package to the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona.
Daniel Ricciardo made contact with Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen on Lap 41 in Baku, eliminating both cars at Turn 1.
Kimi Raikkonen took a second place finish in a subdued performance in Azerbaijan, which involved first-lap contact.
McLaren driver Stoffel Vandoorne has explained what happened during the second practice session for the Chinese Grand Prix, when a loose wheel forced him to stop on track.
Esteban Ocon’s 10th place finish secured Force India’s first point of the season, while team-mate Sergio Perez’s race was compromised by a first lap spin.
Sebastian Vettel won the Bahrain Grand Prix, ahead of both Mercedes drivers, Pierre Gasly a career best fourth, while Marcus Ericsson scores first points in 50 starts and both Red Bull’s retire.
In an improvement from the Australian Grand Prix, Esteban Ocon returned to the top ten on the grid for the Bahrain Grand Prix.
McLaren driver Alonso qualified in 14th place for the Bahrain Grand Prix, despite strong pace in practice.
Verstappen crashed his Red Bull in Q1, leaving him fifteenth on the grid for Sunday’s race.
