Charles on a first pole

CHARLES LECLERC stunned his rivals as he seized the first pole position of his Formula One career.

The 21-year-old from Monaco (above with Lewis Hamilton yesterday) led Ferrari to a front-row lockout in Bahrain.

Calm and composed in only his second race for the Italian giants, Leclerc was 0.294 seconds clear of last year’s pole-sitter Sebastian Vettel, who will start alongside under the Sakhir floodlights.

Five-times world champion Hamilton was Ferrari’s closest challenger in third for Mercedes but the Briton was still 0.324seconds off the pace with teammate Valtteri Bottas alongside in fourth.

Leclerc is the second youngest pole-sitter of all time after Vettel, who did it at 21 years and 73 days with Toro Rosso at Monza in 2008.

“Thanks guys! The car was amazing,” Leclerc said over the team radio after his track record time of one min 27.866sec. “Today is a good beginning, I’ll try and finish the job tomorrow.”

World champion Hamilton promised that the Ferrari’s were in for a fight today. “I really enjoyed qualifying and great to see the progression for us over the weekend,” he said. “The Ferraris were very quick and congratulations to Charles.

“Tomorrow is the important day and we will give them a great fight. We are going to work at it and keep our heads down and see what happens.”

The pole was Ferrari’s first since last September’s Italian Grand Prix and Leclerc’s performance delivered a message to elder statesman Vettel, 31.

Leclerc was not allowed to pass the four-time world champion in the closing stages of the season-opening race due to the German’s de facto No.1 one status.