Verstappen tops Leclerc for Bahrain Grand Prix pole

Max Verstappen has made a statement that he means business this year by claiming pole for Formula 1’s season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. The three-time World Champion’s 1:29.179 on his final run in Q3 was two-tenths better than his rival’s late effort, giving the Dutch driver his 33rd career pole. “It …