In an unexpectedly close session between Red Bull and it’s typically trailing rivals, Leclerc led the way for Ferrari through Q2 and again on the first runs in Q3.
Track limits were a focus throughout the one-hour knockout session, with the penultimate and final corners – Turns 19 and 20 – tricky for the drivers to stay within the white lines as their soft tyres cried enough on the rough, high-energy surface here and with track temperatures around 40 degrees Celsius.
Leclerc’s 1m34.828 topped the first of two Q3 runs, with Verstappen down in third behind Lewis Hamilton and with 0.252s to close, with the Mercedes 0.056s behind the Ferrari.
On the final runs, Leclerc led the pack and bettered his time to a 1m34.723s despite setting no purple sectors, which opened the door for Verstappen.
He gained time as his final lap wore on, but a slide Turn 19 sent him a fraction wide and his 1m34.718s was swiftly deleted.
That cemented Lando Norris in second after he had rocketed up the order on the second Q3 runs after taking used softs for the first efforts in the final segment, while Hamilton came through last of the frontrunners but was unable to knock his compatriot off the front row for Sunday’s GP race despite going fractionally faster than his previous Q3 personal best.
Source: Autosport