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Charles Leclerc at Formula 1 in Spain
Photo: ALBERT GEA / REUTERS
World championship leader Charles Leclerc will start the Formula 1 race in Barcelona from pole position.
In qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix, the 24-year-old Monegasque set the fastest lap in 1:18.750 minutes and in his Ferrari pushed world champion Max Verstappen into second place in the Red Bull.
Third was Leclerc's Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz.
Because Verstappen had problems with the car on his last fast lap, Leclerc was 0.323 seconds ahead.
For Leclerc it is already the fourth pole position this season.
Mick Schumacher achieved his best career result to date in the hunt for a starting position in tenth place in the Haas racing car.
Sebastian Vettel only finished 16th in qualifying.
"You must be joking," former world champion Vettel radioed to his Aston Martin team after being informed of his disappointing result in the car.
With a technically overhauled car, the English racing team had actually hoped for a good starting position.
Now the 34-year-old Vettel has to start from far behind.
Before the sixth round of the season on Sunday (3 p.m. / TV: Sky, live ticker SPIEGEL.de), Leclerc leads in the World Championship standings with 19 points ahead of Verstappen.
One of them has been at the front of every race of the year so far.
Leclerc has won twice, Verstappen has prevailed three times and would like to reduce his deficit in Spain.
jan/dpa
