LECLERC'S 4TH BAKU POLE

Ferrari driver tops qualifying 4 years running on one of favourite tracks but yet to win here

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BAKU Charles Leclerc of Ferrari secured pole for the fourth consecutive year at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Sept 14 as McLaren's title contender Lando Norris suffered a qualifying nightmare and will start in 17th place.

The Monegasque driver, who won the Italian Grand Prix at Monza in his last outing, continued his supreme single-lap form to wind up three-tenths of a second ahead of McLaren's Oscar Piastri. It was the 26th pole of his career at a track where he has yet to win.

"It's one of my favourite tracks of the season," said Leclerc, who crashed in practice on Sept 13.

"It hasn't been an easy weekend for me with the crash in first practice and then a problem in second practice with a new part. I wasn't worried, but the pace was already there and, in my last lap, I went for it a bit more. It is amazing to be on pole again!" Carlos Sainz was third in the second Ferrari and Sergio Perez fourth for Red Bull ahead of Mercedes' George Russell. Three-time world champion and series leader Max Verstappen was sixth in the second Red Bull as his recent struggles continued.

Verstappen leads Norris by 62 points in the title race with eight races of the season remaining.