Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel congratulate Charles Leclerc on Bahrain GP pole

Charles Leclerc

Hamilton, Vettel congratulate Leclerc on first pole

A record-breaker in the desert.

Matthew Scott

Sunday 31 March 2019 11:40

World champion pair Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel paid tribute to Charles Leclerc after he came the 99th pole-sitter in the history of Formula 1 at the Bahrain Grand Prix. Leclerc became Ferrari's youngest qualifying winner with his success in Sakhir, leading Vettel in an all-red front-row lockout.

Only Vettel has ever secured pole position at a younger age than Leclerc in Formula 1 history, Leclerc eclipsing the likes of Fernando Alonso, Hamilton and others among F1's youngest pole-winners.

Asked for a word on his team-mate's achievement, Vettel said: "Well congratulations, I said to him earlier to suck it in, enjoy it.

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"It's his day in the end of the day. Certainly my day was not ideal but even, I think, with an ideal day, it would have been very difficult to beat him today.

"So, well done. My first pole is a while ago but certainly it's a day you never forget."

From taking his first pole at Canada in 2007, Hamilton has become the most successful qualifier in F1 history, with P1 in Australia a fortnight ago his 84th Saturday success.

"He did an incredible job, [I'm] really, really happy for him," the reigning world champion said.