Spanish Grand Prix: Charles Leclerc Takes Pole After Max Verstappen Loses Power

Formula One's early season pacesetter Charles Leclerc survived intense pressure on Saturday to beat world champion Max Verstappen, who suffered a late loss of power, to pole position for Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix. The Ferrari driver had spun his car on his opening run in the third part of qualifying, but responded with a fast, nerveless and improved lap to regain top spot ahead of the Dutchman who was unable to respond. It brought Leclerc his first pole position in Spain, his fourth of the season and the 13th of his career.

"I only had that one lap, but it went extremely well," said the 24-year-old Monegasque.

Verstappen qualified second ahead of local hero Carlos Sainz in the other Ferrari and a resurgent George Russell for Mercedes, Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton in the second Mercedes.

"I feel very good," said Leclerc.

"It was a very, very difficult session, especially in Q3, when I made a mistake on the first run so I only had one lap."

Verstappen said: "I couldn't do my final run. Either the DRS (Drag Reduction System) didn't open or I lost power. It's a bit of a shame, but overall to be on the front row here, looking at the whole weekend, it was a good achievement."

Red Bull confirmed it was the DRS system that had failed.

Sainz, cheered by the big sellout crowd, said: "It's been a tough weekend so far. The conditions have not been easy with the heat and wind, but we managed a decent lap."

Valtteri Bottas qualified seventh, ahead of Kevin Magnussen of Haas, Daniel Ricciardo of McLaren and Mick Schumacher in the second Haas.

On a hot, dry afternoon in Catalonia, Guanyu Zhou was the first man on track in Q1 in which Perez and Verstappen both topped the times before the