Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc has claimed pole position for Sunday's French Grand Prix.
After winning the Austrian Grand Prix earlier this month, Leclerc is back in the title race, trailing Max Verstappen by 38 points.
However, ahead of a Grand Prix where the pole sitter tends to prevail, the pressure was on the contender to build more momentum in Saturday's qualifying session.
Helped by the tow from teammate Carlos Sainz Jr, who will start at the back of the grid, Leclerc comfortably finished ahead of the Championship leader.
Speaking after qualifying, Leclerc said: "It was a great lap. I've struggled all weekend to put a lap together but I put it in and I have to says thanks to Carlos for the help. It was great teamwork.
"I was very surprised by the pace we had. We managed to turn it around for qualifying.
"The car felt good, it is difficult to understand what the Red Bull guys did yesterday as there was loads of difference with lap times. Let's see how it goes tomorrow."
Verstappen still made it onto the front row of the grid, albeit three tenths of a second adrift of Leclerc, with Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez completing the top three.
Lewis Hamilton, a former winner in this race, joins Perez on the second row, with British compatriots Lando Norris and George Russell fifth and sixth respectively in their McLaren and Mercedes.
Yuki Tsunoda and Fernando Alonso will start on the fourth row of the grid in the Alpine and AlphaTauri, but Kevin Magnussen will join fellow Q3 participant Sainz at the back of the grid due to penalties.
Darren Plant
