World champion Max Verstappen started his title defense with a pole position at the Bahrain International Circuit. The two-time world champion pipped teammate Sergio Perez to grab the pole position by 0.138s.Fans on Twitter applauded the young Dutchman, calling his performance a brilliant start to his third title-winning campaign. Red Bull locked up the front row while Charles Leclerc in his Ferrari will be starting third and his teammate Carlos Sainz is starting fourth in tomorrow's race.Some of the best reactions to Verstappen's pole on Twitter were:ᐯ ﾒ ᗪ@VXDXI@F1 @Max33Verstappen @redbullracing Road to 3rd title started. Go max.231@F1 @Max33Verstappen @redbullracing Road to 3rd title started. Go max."Road to 3rd title started. Go max."Stefanie@fastpitstopWe thought Alonso was going to beef with Verstappen but now it looks like he is going to beef with us while Max can drive away into the sunset2800190We thought Alonso was going to beef with Verstappen but now it looks like he is going to beef with us while Max can drive away into the sunset https://t.co/m2PJRNz3xb"We thought Alonso was going to beef with Verstappen but now it looks like he is going to beef with us while Max can drive away into the sunset."av¹ | 🇧🇭@maxplaining“max verstappen, the reigning world champion”959“max verstappen, the reigning world champion” https://t.co/X76Txy07Lt"“max verstappen, the reigning world champion”"conni@VERCAPLESSPOLE KING MAX VERSTAPPEN DID IT AGAIN838POLE KING MAX VERSTAPPEN DID IT AGAIN https://t.co/sxehevT47d"POLE KING MAX VERSTAPPEN DID IT AGAIN."Louis@goose_plsVerstappen taking pole after all the Alonso hype #F1 #BahrainGP #Qualifying #F12023122Verstappen taking pole after all the Alonso hype #F1 #BahrainGP #Qualifying #F12023 https://t.co/RdWEEyo2S5"Verstappen taking pole after all the Alonso hype."Saskia Schuuring 🇳🇱🇪🇺❤️🧡💉🌺@SaskiaPanterSchAnd we go on right where we left off in 2022. Hoppaaaaa @Max33Verstappen on Pole Position and @SChecoPerez 2nd position. #F1 #MaxVerstappen #redbullracing 🧡🏎🦁 #thelionisunleashed twitter.com/redbullracing/…Oracle Red Bull Racing@redbullracingFRONT ROW LOCKOUT FOR THE #BAHRAINGP 214113552FRONT ROW LOCKOUT FOR THE #BAHRAINGP 🔒🇧🇭 https://t.co/0kctApnGCVAnd we go on right where we left off in 2022. Hoppaaaaa @Max33Verstappen on Pole Position and @SChecoPerez 2nd position. #F1 #MaxVerstappen #redbullracing 🧡🇳🇱🏎🦁 #thelionisunleashed twitter.com/redbullracing/…"And we go on right where we left off in 2022. Hoppaaaaa Verstappen on Pole Position and Perez 2nd position."Ayomide Alabi@ayomidefinesseMax Verstappen takes pole yet again. RedBull are back where they left off.Max Verstappen takes pole yet again. RedBull are back where they left off."Max Verstappen takes pole yet again. RedBull are back where they left off."T_RG👹@TyrellRG7Back on the track with a pole 🤩Yes champ. Tomorrow is ours #F1 #MaxVerstappen twitter.com/Max33Verstappe…Max Verstappen@Max33VerstappenPole Position!! Very happy that we managed to put the best bits together for Qualifying today! Great work by everyone in the team @redbullracing & @HondaRacingGLB Looking forward to be racing again tomorrow 11308Pole Position!! Very happy that we managed to put the best bits together for Qualifying today! Great work by everyone in the team @redbullracing & @HondaRacingGLB 👏Looking forward to be racing again tomorrow 👌 https://t.co/EQD3j3H3woBack on the track with a pole 🔥🤩Yes champ🏆. Tomorrow is ours #F1 #MaxVerstappen twitter.com/Max33Verstappe…~ pb ~@CRGB0Y007@redbullracing THIS 3PEAT BOUT TO HIT LIKE CRACK603@redbullracing THIS 3PEAT BOUT TO HIT LIKE CRACK https://t.co/0uZV3ZUJqv"THIS 3PEAT BOUT TO HIT LIKE CRACK"Selenoza@selenoza@redbullracing Great start to the season I’m excited for the race tomorrow!!!@redbullracing Great start to the season I’m excited for the race tomorrow!!!"Great start to the season I’m excited for the race tomorrow!!!"Max Verstappen ends Fernando Alonso's fans' dreams of poleVerstappen took pole after some difficult practice sessions where the Dutchman was not feeling right in his car. Fernando Alonso was the man of the hour after the practice sessions, topping the timesheets in both FP2 and FP3.The new Aston Martin driver looked set for a pole before both the Ferraris and Red Bulls set blistering fast times that meant the Spaniard starts from the third row tomorrow. It was a disappointing end to a great Friday and Saturday performance by the two-time World Champion.Fans will be hoping for a comeback from the legendary driver and a win will surely be a treat for his supporters. Alonso last won an F1 race ten years ago, the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix, starting from fifth, similar to tomorrow's race. Overcoming Red Bull and Verstappen will be a challenge for the Spaniard. Red Bull showed their dominance in the second half of the season last year and are not looking to slow down anytime soon.