Leclerc takes pole in Spanish Grand Prix ahead of Verstappen, Sainz

Montmeló, Spain, May 21 (EFE).- Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc will start in pole position in the Spanish Grand Prix after posting the fastest time in qualifying on Saturday.

Despite spinning in Q3, Leclerc, the leader of the world championship, registered his thirteenth pole position in his F1 career and his fourth of the season, with a time of 1:18:750, 323 milliseconds faster than Max Verstappen, the reigning world champion.

The Monegasque went 416 milliseconds quicker than his teammate, Carlos Sainz, who will start in third.

The Spaniard will start from the second row next to Mercedes’ George Russell, who finished fourth.

Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate, Sergio Pérez, was fifth, and the other British Mercedes driver, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, was sixth, as Mercedes improved greatly after a difficult start to the season.

Finland’s Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo) will start from the fourth row, next to Denmark’s Kevin Magnussen (Haas), who will start from eighth on Sunday.

Australian Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren), ninth in qualifying, will start from the fifth row, alongside German Mick Schumacher (Haas). EFE

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