Max Verstappen’s Red Bull car “came alive” during the qualifying session for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, securing pole position with a track record. He beat McLaren’s Oscar Piastri by just one hundredth of a second, setting a time of 1min 27.294sec. This thrilling session took place on Saturday night under the floodlights of the high-speed Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
Max Verstappen’s Impressive Performance
Verstappen’s success was a remarkable turn of events after struggles in Bahrain the previous weekend. Reflecting on his performance, he said, “Simply lovely! I definitely didn’t expect to be on pole here.” He praised the adjustments his team made, which helped improve the car’s handling and grip. “The car came alive in the night,” Verstappen added, expressing his confidence heading into the race. He also acknowledged that McLaren would be tough competitors in the race but promised to give it his best effort.
The Championship Battle
As of now, Lando Norris leads the drivers’ standings by just three points over Piastri, while Verstappen is only five points behind. The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is the fifth round of the 24-race season, and the competition is intense.
Piastri’s Optimism Despite Losing Pole
Oscar Piastri, who will start the race from second position, was pleased with his qualifying performance. “I think Max has done a good job,” he said, recognizing Verstappen’s speed. However, Piastri remains optimistic about the race, stating, “I think our pace is good. It’s going to be a tough race.”
George Russell and Charles Leclerc’s Strong Qualifying
George Russell will start in third position alongside Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc on the second row. McLaren is hoping to continue its strong start to the season, with Norris winning the season opener in Melbourne and Piastri claiming victory in China and Sakhir.
Norris’s Crash and Setbacks
The qualifying session took place after sunset, when cooler night conditions helped the drivers. Unfortunately for Lando Norris, his chances of challenging for pole were dashed when he crashed into the wall after turn four. “I’m OK,” he said, though clearly frustrated with the mistake. Norris will start the race from the fifth row in 10th position.
Qualifying Highlights and Key Moments
The second qualifying session saw Verstappen, along with the two McLarens, leading the way. Several drivers failed to make it past the first hurdle, including Lance Stroll, Jack Doohan, Nico Hulkenberg, Esteban Ocon, and Gabriel Bortoleto. Verstappen managed to split the McLaren duo in the second segment, but some big names, like Alex Albon, Fernando Alonso, and Liam Lawson, were eliminated.
The final moments of qualifying were intense, with Piastri initially taking provisional pole. However, after Norris’s crash, the session resumed, and Verstappen took over at the top, edging out Piastri by just one thousandth of a second. In the closing laps, Russell briefly held the top spot, but Verstappen and Piastri ultimately finished ahead.
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: A Risky, Fast Track
Pole position is crucial in Saudi Arabia, as the driver in the front has won three out of the four times the track has hosted an Formula One race since 2021. The Jeddah track is known for being the fastest street circuit on the calendar, featuring 27 challenging corners. The narrow, barrier-lined layout leaves little room for error, making every lap a risk-reward situation, as Norris learned the hard way.
