Epic battle ahead as Ferrari's Leclerc snubs Verstappen for first pole of F1 season

Charles Leclerc put Ferrari on pole position for Formula One's season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday with Red Bull's world champion Max Verstappen set to start alongside on the front row.

Ferrari's Carlos Sainz qualified third with Red Bull's Sergio Perez fourth. Seven times world champion Lewis Hamilton will line up in fifth place, alongside former Mercedes team mate Valtteri Bottas who qualified sixth for Alfa Romeo.

CHARLES: "It feels good! We were quite hopeful that this would be an opportunity to be back in the front. We're starting from pole, so I'm very happy!"#BahrainGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/U0TEiM0LiO

MAX: “I think we have a good car and a good race car. It was a good start to the new era. It was a really close battle with Carlos and Charles” #BahrainGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/vozsY2jzzv