Ferrari rookie Leclerc claims maiden pole with lap record

Ferrari new boy Charles Leclerc secured his first pole position on Saturday when he set a new track record by topping a dramatic qualifying session for Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix.

The 21-tear-old Formula One rookie became the first Monegasque driver ever to take pole for a world championship race.

Leclerc lapped the Bahrain International Circuit in one minute and 27.866 seconds, beating the mark set by his team-mate and four-time champion Sebastian Vettel last year.

Vettel qualified second to clinch a Ferrari lockout of the front row and was quick to congratulate his new team-mate who shone in only his second race weekend with the team.

"He deserved it," said Vettel.

"Yes, come on!" said Leclerc, who is 10 years younger than his team-mate.

"Tomorrow is the race and it's where we score points, but it's a good beginning... It seems like we did a good job so I am extremely happy."
- 'Worst spot ever' -
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"But that is not all there is to it and we have to sit down and work out a way to try and beat them."