Leclerc takes Mexican pole in Ferrari front-row lockout

Charles Leclerc swept to pole position for the Mexico City Formula One Grand Prix on Saturday with Carlos Sainz qualifying second in a surprise Ferrari front-row lockout.

The Italian team had seemed slow in final practice, with Leclerc 13th and Sainz 15th, but they pulled the time out of the hat when it mattered, with Leclerc lapping in one minute 17.166 seconds.

Sainz was 0.067 slower with triple world champion Max Verstappen, chasing a 51st career win and record 16th of the season, third on the grid for Red Bull and 0.097 off the pace.

Australian Daniel Ricciardo qualified a stunning fourth for AlphaTauri after returning from a broken hand.

Red Bull's Sergio Perez qualified fifth for his home race, with Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton sixth after being fastest in the second phase.