P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Leclerc: Ferrari ‘lost rhythm’ to beat Verstappen to Bahrain F1 pole
Verstappen, the three-time world champion, will kick off his title defense from the pole position in Sakhir, edging out his main rival Leclerc by 0.228s with a final flying lap of 1min29.179s. Leclerc’s strong Q2 run with a 1m29.165s lap could have secured him the top spot, but he lost time in the final sector during Q3 due to issues with Ferrari’s tire strategy. Despite the setback, Leclerc considered it a positive qualifying session overall, mentioning that his pace in Q2 was on par with Verstappen’s Q3 lap time. He expressed satisfaction with Ferrari’s progress, highlighting improvements compared to last year and emphasizing the need to assess race pace against Red Bull. Leclerc admitted to a bit of disappointment but recognized the team’s advancements and the car’s improved performance during qualifying, setting the stage for a competitive race.
