Leclerc

Charles Leclerc steals Pole from Max Verstappen. Image: Charles Leclerc/twitter

Leclerc beats Verstappen for pole

Verstappen and Leclerc posted identical only for Leclerc to step forward with a 1m 40.203s on the decisive final laps.

Leclerc

Charles Leclerc steals Pole from Max Verstappen. Image: Charles Leclerc/twitter

Charles Leclerc claimed pole position for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after getting the better of Max Verstappen in a thrilling, hotly-contested qualifying session on Friday evening.

By qualifying first, Leclerc made it three poles on the bounce at the Baku City Circuit.

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With the Red Bull faster in a straight line, but the Ferrari quicker through the corners, a fascinating battle developed over the course of an incident-packed qualifying hour on the shores of the Caspian Sea – and it was Leclerc who ultimately came out on top.

Leclerc gets his first pole of the season in Baku

Incredibly, Verstappen and Leclerc posted identical 1m 40.445s lap times during their first Q3 runs, only for Leclerc to step forward with a 1m 40.203s on the decisive final laps, putting him 0.188s up on Verstappen.

With Leclerc adding to his 2021 and 2022 poles at the venue, Verstappen settling for second and Sergio Perez securing third in the other Red Bull, it was Carlos Sainz who took the ‘best of the rest’ spot, some eight tenths off the pace of his Ferrari team mate.

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Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso start on the third row

Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso were fifth and sixth respectively for Mercedes and Aston Martin, McLaren’s Lando Norris and AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda took eye-catching P7 and P8 spots, with Lance Stroll and Oscar Piastri rounding out the top 10 positions.

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Leclerc will also look to get his season back on track on Saturday with the Sprint Race.

The main race on Sunday.

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