Oscar Piastri was left to rue the final moments of qualifying for Sunday's Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix when hopes of a much-needed pole position were left in ruins.
The Aussie, looking bright around Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya, was quickest in Q3, the final run at qualifying, clocking 1 minute 15.176 seconds.
But then Ferrari's Charles Leclerc - under pressure after a mixed start to the season - suffered an unusual snap at Turn 4 and overcorrected, resulting in a trip through the gravel before he piled into the barrier.
Once the action resumed, with eight minutes to go, Mercedes pair George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, along with the other Ferrari driver, Lewis Hamilton, took control.
Russell will start on pole on Sunday, in front of Hamilton. Italy's Antonelli, who has a 66-point lead at the top of the standings over seven-time world champion Hamilton, qualified third, with Piastri's Mclaren teammate Lando Norris fourth.
