Bahrain Grand Prix: Charles Leclerc Opens Season Taking First Pole

 

As drivers are gearing up for the season opening grand prix in Bahrain on Sunday, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc edged F1 defending champion Max Verstappen to claimed the pole at the qualifying session. 

Charles emerged as the pole setter by beating Red Bull's Verstappen by 0.123 seconds and that brought his career pole position to 10th and will contesting for his first race win since 2019 Italian Grand Prix. The Monagasque's teammate Carlos Sainz finished in third. 

Meanwhile, Charles had a spin at Turn 11 and went wide rumbling over the curb and could have caused a collision with oncoming Carlos and Verstappen but both drivers dodged and sped by his car.

"It has been a difficult session," said Charles. "We were quite sure Red Bull would be in front but actually when we put everything together the car was very competitive."

Mercedes didn't have it good just as they've already been struggling through the practice sessions. Lewis Hamilton finished 0.680 seconds and will start in P5 behind Verstappen's teammate Sergio Perez on Sunday. 

Valtteri Bottas edged past Mercedes' new driver George  Russell (9th) and Alpha Tauri's Pierre Gasly (8th) will start in the sixth place on his debut race for his new team Alfa Romero - the Fin Mercedes spell ended last season after spending four seasons with the team.