MANAMA (Reuters) – Charles Leclerc heralded a return to kind for Italian crew Ferrari by seizing a stunning pole place on Saturday for the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix.
The Monegasque lit up the timing screens with a lap of 1 minute 30.558 seconds to beat world champion Max Verstappen by 0.123 seconds.
Spaniard Carlos Sainz missed out on handing Ferrari their first front-row lockout for the reason that 2019 Mexican Grand Prix by simply 0.006 seconds and needed to accept third.
“It feels good, the last two years have been incredibly difficult for the team and we knew this year’s rules would be an opportunity for us,” stated Leclerc after taking his tenth profession pole and second in Bahrain.
“I am very happy today in a tricky qualifying session; I wasn’t happy with my driving,” he added.
Ferrari haven’t gained a race for the reason that 2019 Singapore Grand Prix however have been hyped by rivals as early favourites in Formula One’s new period, that includes vehicles designed to radically new guidelines geared toward bettering the racing spectacle.
Verstappen, who clinched his first title finally 12 months’s finale in Abu Dhabi, had gone quickest within the remaining apply session earlier on Saturday.
He couldn’t hit the candy spot with the stability when it mattered, nonetheless, however is assured he has a powerful automotive for Sunday’s race.
“It was a bit of hit and miss, Q2 seemed quite good, Q3 was a struggle with the balance and to get it together. But we have a good race car and it is a good start for tomorrow.”
Mercedes’s predictions of a tough begin to their quest for a file ninth straight title, dismissed as gamesmanship by rivals, got here true.
Lewis Hamilton was greater than half a second off Leclerc’s tempo in fifth whereas George Russell, in his first race as a full-time Mercedes driver, was a disappointing ninth.
(Reporting by Abhishek Takle; enhancing by Clare Fallon)
