Manama, March 19 (BNA) Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc surprised Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen by taking pole position in the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday.
Verstappen was 0.15secs ahead of Leclerc the last time they split, but the Red Bull star wasted time to finish 0.13secs behind his teenage karting rival, snatching 10th place in his career.
Seven-times champion Lewis Hamilton made the ground for Mercedes in his last career, but started from a disappointing fifth, behind Red Bull’s Sergio Perez and Red Bull’s Carlos Sainz Jr in third.
Former Hamilton teammate Valtteri Bottas made his day for Mercedes as he finished sixth for his new team Alfa Romeo, while his replacement George Russell was only ninth after a poor final streak.
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