F1: Leclerc races to pole for Ferrari – Gulf Digital News

F1: Leclerc races to pole for Ferrari – Gulf Digital News

Charles Leclerc heralded a return to form for Ferrari at the start of Formula One’s new era by handing the Italian glamour team pole position at the Formula One 2022 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix yesterday.

The Monegasque lit up the timing screens at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir with a lap of one 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 since the 2019 Mexican Grand Prix by 0.006 seconds and had to settle for third.

The pole was Ferrari’s first since Leclerc was surprisingly fastest in Azerbaijan last June.

“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,” said Leclerc after taking his 10th career 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 have not won a race since the 2019 Singapore Grand Prix but have been hyped by rivals as early favourites in Formula One’s new era, featuring cars designed to radically new rules aimed at improving the racing spectacle.

Verstappen, who clinched