Leclerc on pole for Azerbaijan Grand Prix sprint race

BAKU, Azerbaijan - Charles Leclerc will start on pole for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix Sprint race despite crashing on his final flying lap in qualifying on Saturday.

The Ferrari driver is joined by Sergio Perez's Red Bull on the front row for the first of Formula One's six sprints this season.

Ferrari's Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc steers his car during the qualifying session for the Formula One Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the Baku City Circuit in Baku on April 28. - Pic: AFP

Max Verstappen finished third with George Russell in fourth.

Leclerc is a master of qualifying on the streets of Baku, adding this to his pole from qualifying on Friday for Sunday's main event.

The sprint, introduced in 2021, has undergone a revamp.

The 100 kilometre dash now stands alone from Sunday's main race with its own new shorter form of qualifying called the 'Sprint Shootout'.

Leclerc created a footnote in F1 history by claiming the honours of the inaugural edition in entertaining style.

Ferrari's Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc gets out of his damaged car during the sprint shootout ahead of the Formula One Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the Baku City Circuit in Baku on April 29 - Pic: AFP

He topped the times with three minutes of qualifying to go but then slid his Ferrari into the barriers at his last throw of the dice.

But the Red Bulls weren't able to better Leclerc's time as he claimed his second pole in Azerbaijan inside 24 hours. - AFP