Leclerc scorches onto pole in baking Barcelona

CHARLES LECLERC bounced back from a spin yesterday to put his Ferrari on pole position for the Spanish Grand Prix.

The championship leader lost control of his car through the chicane on his first attempt at a sweltering Circuit de Catalunya on the outskirts of Barcelona to leave him sweating.

But the Monegasque kept his cool with his last effort to deliver an impressive lap under pressure and beat rival Max Verstappen by three tenths.

Verstappen, who trails Leclerc (right) by 19 points, complained he had no power on his last attempt.

Carlos Sainz finished third in the other Ferrari, with George Russell fourth for Mercedes – two places and just over a tenth ahead of team-mate Lewis Hamilton.

‘I only had one lap after I made a mistake, but I delivered and it makes me very happy,’ said Leclerc, right.

‘I am in a strong position to start the race. If we don’t manage the tyres well tomorrow we will lose the win because Max is right behind.’

Verstappen added: ‘I couldn’t do my final run as I just lost power. It is a bit of a shame but to be on the front for us is a good achievement, but of course I would have liked to have had that final run.’

Mercedes have brought a number of upgrades to Spain – including a revised floor and new front wing – and Russell impressed en route to fourth. He is currently 23 points ahead of Hamilton after beating his seven-time world champion team-mate at four of the five grands prix so far. Hamilton so often reigns in Spain, with four of the last five Spanish GP poles and six wins – a record he shares with Michael Schumacher – but he has played second fiddle to his team-mate here so far.

‘This car just doesn’t talk to Lewis in the way that he likes a car to talk to him,’ said respected pundit Martin Brundle in commentary for Sky Sports. ‘We have had years of Lewis being absolutely precise everywhere and he is fighting, he doesn’t know what the car is going to do next.

‘Lewis is having to hustle, and that is not how we are used to him driving a Mercedes. George seems to be more precise with the car.’

There was woe for Fernando Alonso on home soil as the double world champion failed to get over the line in time to complete his final lap. The 41-year-old will line up a lowly 17th and will be joined at the back of the grid by both Aston Martin drivers.