Formula 1 qualifying in Baku: Leclerc will start from first place for the sixth time – in the eighth race

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Charles Leclerc in Ferrari at Baku City Circuit

Photo: ALI HAIDER/EPA

Charles Leclerc grabbed pole position for the Formula 1 race in Azerbaijan (Sunday, 1 p.m., TV: Sky).

The Ferrari driver from Monaco was 0.282 seconds faster than the Mexican Sergio Pérez in the Red Bull in Baku on Saturday. World championship leader Max Verstappen (+0.347) had to be content with third place in the second Red Bull.

Fourth went to Leclerc's teammate Carlos Sainz, who initially led the final part of qualifying.

Sebastian Vettel was ninth on the grid in the Aston Martin.

Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes will start the race from seventh place, his team-mate George Russell was fifth.

Mick Schumacher was eliminated in the Haas after the first round and will start the Grand Prix on the Caspian Sea from the last place on the grid.

For Leclerc it is the 15th pole of his Formula 1 career and the sixth in the eighth race of the season.

When it comes to race victories, however, competitor Verstappen is ahead by a nose, the world champion has four successes, Lerclerc two.

It's been more than two months since the last one (April 10 in Australia).

The 24-year-old Leclerc is nine points behind Verstappen in the World Cup.

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