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Oscar Piastri piled the pressure on McLaren teammate Lando Norris by taking pole position in Bahrain on Saturday for his 50th Formula One race, with the championship leader qualifying only sixth.
Surprised Mercedes rival George Russell joined the Australian on the front row at the floodlit Sakhir desert circuit while a dejected Norris said he had been simply "clueless".
The only positive for Norris was having closest rival and defending four-times world champion Max Verstappen end up in seventh place for Red Bull at a track where he was utterly dominant last year.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc qualified third and Mercedes' Italian rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli fourth with Alpine's Pierre Gasly fifth.
Piastri, who was also fastest in two out of three practice sessions, lapped with a best time of one minute 29.841 seconds, 0.168 faster than Russell. The pole was his second of the season and of his career.
"I've felt confident out there pretty much all weekend," said Piastri, who is 13 points adrift of Norris in the standings and third overall. Norris leads Verstappen by just one after three races.
"The others caught up a little bit closer than what I wanted but I still delivered the laps when it mattered, which was the most important thing at the end."
Russell was delighted to end up so close to Piastri after struggling for grip in the afternoon's final practice, with the McLaren's looking in another league.
"I think if anybody said we'd have been within half a second of the McLarens we'd have taken it because we would have thought that would have been P3 on the grid. So to be second on the grid is a bonus," he said.
"So lining up P2 is a great chance for tomorrow, but I think being realistic it will be a challenge to fight with Oscar."
Piastri, winner in China from pole, could become the first double winner of the season and Norris said he deserved his success.
"The car is amazing, as good as it has been all season which is strong. Just I have been off it all weekend," Norris told reporters.
"I don't know why, just clueless on track at the minute. Just not quick enough, simple as that."
Verstappen said he had been struggling with the brakes and lack of grip.
"I have no idea where we will be in terms of race pace. We'll be in the middle of the pack so hopefully a bit of excitement," he added.
Carlos Sainz qualified eighth for Williams with Ferrari's seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton ninth and Red Bull's Yuki Tsunoda 10th.
It was the first time this season that both Red Bulls had reached the top 10 shootout, although they flirted with an early exit.
"Obviously, as a driver you want more but considering what I had in practice, and it’s only my second race (for Red Bull), I’ll still take it," said the Japanese, who replaced Liam Lawson after the opening two races.
Esteban Ocon crashed his Haas in the second phase, triggering red flags after he careered backwards across the gravel into the barriers.
The Frenchman took his time clambering out and was taken away in the medical car.
Australian rookie Jack Doohan qualified his Alpine 11th, his best session yet, and one place ahead of Racing Bulls' Isack Hadjar.
Alex Albon failed to make it through the opening phase for the first time this season, the Williams driver qualifying only 16th.
Albon was then promoted to 15th - but too late to progress - when Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg had his lap deleted.
Hadjar's teammate Lawson had another difficult evening and was only 17th.
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