Leclerc takes pole position for French GP

LE CASTELLET: Charles Leclerc will start the French Grand Prix from pole position after edging out his world title rival Max Verstappen in qualifying on Saturday.

Ferrari’s Leclerc, who trails championship leader Verstappen by 38 points in the drivers’ standings, posted a time of one minute and 30.872 seconds.

Verstappen’s Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez qualified third-fastest, with Lewis Hamilton completing the second row.

The pole was Leclerc’s seventh in 12 races, 16th of the Monegasque’s career, and he had Spanish team-mate Carlos Sainz to thank for giving him a strategic aerodynamic tow that made a big difference.

Sainz will start at the back of the grid, on what is likely to be a hot and possibly windy Sunday afternoon at Le Castellet’s Circuit Paul Ricard, due to engine penalties.