F1: Ferrari’s Leclerc puts in a late flyer for pole in Spanish GP – Gulf Digital News

F1: Ferrari’s Leclerc puts in a late flyer for pole in Spanish GP – Gulf Digital News

BARCELONA: Ferrari’s Formula One leader Charles Leclerc performed under pressure to come back from a spin with a stunning lap that sent him from 10th to pole position for today’s Spanish Grand Prix.

Main rival and reigning world champion Max Verstappen, who had looked like taking the top slot for Red Bull, had to settle for second after a late loss of speed wrecked his final effort at the Circuit de Catalunya.

Leclerc’s lap of one minute 18.750 seconds was just over three tenths of a second quicker than Verstappen’s best with the top two continuing a battle that has been the talk of the season.

“I had (some) moments on my lap but at the end I made it stick and I’m very, very happy with pole position,” said Leclerc.

Ferrari’s home hero Carlos Sainz secured third place, but 0.416 slower than Leclerc, with George Russell taking the fourth slot for a revived Mercedes team enjoying their best Saturday of the campaign so far.

Russell’s team mate and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton qualified sixth, behind Red Bull’s Sergio Perez. The Briton has won the last five Spanish Grands Prix and six in total but that run now looks likely to end.

The pole was