Red Bull’s Max Verstappen secured pole position ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. This victory came after an intense qualifying session on Saturday. Verstappen’s performance was unstoppable on the high-speed Jeddah Corniche Circuit. He clinched the top spot by a mere one hundredth of a second.
Meanwhile, Piastri’s teammate and championship leader, Lando Norris, crashed during the top 10 shoot-out. Consequently, Norris will start Sunday’s race from the fifth row.
This achievement marks a significant comeback for Verstappen. The Dutchman had faced challenges in Bahrain the previous weekend. “Very happy! I definitely didn’t expect to be on pole here,” Verstappen exclaimed. He attributed his success to the car’s performance under the night sky. Final adjustments made the car more enjoyable to drive, enhancing its grip.
Anticipating a Challenging Race Ahead
Verstappen acknowledged the upcoming race’s difficulty. “I think tomorrow in the race, it will be tough to keep them (McLaren) behind, but we’ll give it a good go,” he stated. Currently, Norris leads the drivers’ standings by three points over Piastri. Verstappen trails by five points before this fifth round of the 24-race season.
George Russell will start from the second row in his Mercedes. He will be alongside Charles Leclerc in his Ferrari. Kimi Antonelli, in the other Mercedes, will begin from the third row with Carlos Sainz in a Williams. Completing the top 10 are Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, Yuki Tsunoda in the second Red Bull, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, and Norris.
This lineup promises an exhilarating race on Sunday.
