Max Verstappen secured the pole position for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after a dramatic qualifying session in Jeddah that saw championship leader Lando Norris crash out early on. Norris had just begun his initial flying lap in Q3 when he lost control of his McLaren. As he accelerated out of Turn 4, he hit the curb, causing his car to slide uncontrollably into the outside barrier. The impact damaged the front-left corner of his vehicle, effectively ending his session and leaving him to start the race from the 10th position without setting a competitive time.
The crash triggered a suspension of the session to allow for the removal of Norris’s damaged McLaren, the MCL39. At that point, only Oscar Piastri had managed to complete a timed lap, which was slower than his previous best from Q2. Once the session resumed, Verstappen seized the opportunity to claim provisional pole. He made a unique decision to complete two qualifying laps, interrupted by a pit stop for new tires.
George Russell briefly took the lead with his single flying lap, but both Piastri and Verstappen still had the chance to respond. Piastri managed to move to the top of the leaderboard, holding a slender 0.103-second advantage over the competition. However, Verstappen was the last of the leading contenders to cross the line, and he had the final say in the pole position battle. He clocked a purple first sector, 0.123 seconds faster than Piastri. Although he did not improve his time in the last two sectors, his earlier performance was enough to secure the pole by a mere 0.001 seconds.
Expressing his satisfaction, Verstappen stated, “I’m very happy. I definitely didn’t expect to be on pole here after FP3, considering how the entire weekend unfolded. The car came alive in the night. We made some final adjustments, and it was much more enjoyable to drive. The grip was coming to me. It’s really satisfying. Being first in qualifying is obviously the best position for tomorrow, even though it will be challenging to keep them behind during the race, but we’ll give it a go.”
Piastri, while disappointed that pole was just out of reach, felt he had maximized his car’s potential. “To be honest, I was pretty happy with it,” he remarked. “There wasn’t too much more left in that lap. I’m content with the job I did. I was playing catch-up a little bit through the first part of qualifying, but that last lap felt like the best I could’ve done.”
Russell, who ended up just 0.113 seconds shy of the pole time, expressed surprise at how close he was to the front. “Before the session, I would’ve definitely taken P3,” he noted. “But seeing how close it was — I was really happy with the lap — you always wonder if there was a little more left in there. P3 is a great place to start, and it’ll be a long race tomorrow.”
Charles Leclerc put his Ferrari in the mix, finishing fourth but was 0.376 seconds off the pace, never really in contention for pole. Andrea Kimi Antonelli qualified fifth, accompanied by Carlos Sainz in sixth, marking Sainz’s best qualifying result of the season. Lewis Hamilton could only manage seventh place, 0.531 seconds behind his Ferrari rival Leclerc, with the gap between the two Ferrari drivers being consistently similar throughout the weekend.
Yuki Tsunoda qualified eighth in the second Red Bull Racing car, 0.91 seconds off the fastest time, while Pierre Gasly rounded out the top nine, 1.073 seconds slower than pole position. Alex Albon narrowly missed out on Q3, finishing just 0.007 seconds behind, and was outqualified by teammate Sainz for the second consecutive race. Liam Lawson achieved a milestone by qualifying 12th, starting ahead of his teammate for the first time this season, while Isack Hadjar finished two places behind him in the second car.
Fernando Alonso continued his streak of disappointing qualifying positions, landing 13th for the fourth race in a row. Oliver Bearman, racing for Haas, qualified 15th, making him the slowest driver in Q2. Lance Stroll faced another setback, being knocked out in Q1 for the third race in a row, and ended up in 16th place, ahead of rookie Jack Doohan, Nico Hulkenberg, Esteban Ocon, and Gabriel Bortoleto, who unfortunately lost his final lap due to a spin, finishing last and 0.37 seconds behind the pack.
The session was filled with excitement and dramatic moments, setting the stage for an intriguing race. The tension of the qualifying hour kept fans on the edge of their seats, particularly with Norris’s unexpected departure from the race for pole. The drivers will now look ahead to the race, where tire management and strategy will play crucial roles in determining the outcome.
As the lights go out in Jeddah, all eyes will be on Verstappen, who hopes to convert his pole position into a victory. The competition will undoubtedly be fierce, especially with talented drivers like Piastri and Russell eager to challenge for the podium. With various teams showcasing their strengths and weaknesses through the qualifying rounds, the race promises to be a thrilling spectacle for Formula 1 fans around the world.
The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is not only a test of speed but also of skill, strategy, and teamwork. Each driver and team must navigate the challenges of the night race, including the unique layout of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, which demands precision and control. As the drivers prepare to take the start, the excitement builds for what could be a memorable evening of racing.
