Max Verstappen beats Hamilton to French Grand Prix pole

PARIS: Formula One championship leader Max Verstappen lifted himself into a league of his own as he beat title rival Lewis Hamilton to pole position with a blinding lap in qualifying for the French Grand Prix at Circuit Paul Ricard. The 23-year-old, the only driver to go faster than the one minute 30 seconds mark, set the timing screens alight with a one minute 29.990 second lap around the 5.8-km Paul Ricard track.

That was good enough to beat Hamilton by a handy 0.258 seconds, with the Mercedes driver lining up alongside the Red Bull on the front row.

Four points separate the pair in the overall standings.

"So far it has been a really positive weekend at a track where it has been a bit difficult for us," said Verstappen after taking his second pole position of the season and the fifth of his career. Agencies

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