Saudi Arabian GP Qualifying: Verstappen Takes Stunning Pole as Norris Crashes Out
Max Verstappen pulled off a dramatic and somewhat unexpected pole position in a chaotic qualifying session at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, delivering a standout performance for Red Bull Racing. Despite challenges throughout the session and fierce competition from McLaren, Verstappen managed to find the pace when it mattered most.
Q1: Midfield Chaos and Early Drama
Qualifying at the high-speed Jeddah Corniche Circuit began with a bang as midfield teams were quick to hit the track. Haas drivers were the first to set flying laps, but the early pace belonged to McLaren. Oscar Piastri fired the first warning shot, going fastest with a 1:28.019, narrowly ahead of teammate Lando Norris by just 0.007 seconds.
Norris wasn’t done yet. With around seven minutes left in Q1, he improved to a 1:27.805 to retake the lead. The McLarens looked strong and confident, but the session was far from smooth across the field. Williams’ Alex Albon appeared to graze the wall at one point, and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly had a bizarre incident when his car was released with a tyre warmer cable still attached—a clear pit lane error at the worst possible time.
As the session neared its conclusion, Verstappen delivered a blistering lap that sent his Red Bull to the top of the timing charts with a 1:27.778, just edging Norris. This late surge highlighted the reigning champion’s ability to find extra pace under pressure.
The bottom five in Q1 who failed to progress were Lance Stroll (Aston Martin), Jack Doohan (Alpine), Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber), Esteban Ocon (Haas), and Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber). It was a mixed result, with both Sauber drivers and an Alpine falling at the first hurdle.
Q1 Final Standings:
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 1:27.778
2. Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1:27.805
3. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 1:27.901
4. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 1:28.128
5. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) – 1:28.226
6. Alex Albon (Williams) – 1:28.279
7. George Russell (Mercedes) – 1:28.282
8. Carlos Sainz (Williams) – 1:28.354
9. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – 1:28.372
10. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – 1:28.421
11. Oliver Bearman (Haas) – 1:28.536
12. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – 1:28.548
13. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 1:28.552
14. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – 1:28.561
15. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) – 1:28.571
16. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – 1:28.645
17. Jack Doohan (Alpine) – 1:28.739
18. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) – 1:28.782
19. Esteban Ocon (Haas) – 1:29.092
20. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) – 1:29.462
Tension Builds in Q2
As Q2 began, tensions were already high. Mercedes’ young talent Andrea Kimi Antonelli narrowly avoided a collision in the pit lane, remarking, “Man, that was close!” after being released just behind a McLaren. These tight margins underlined the intensity of qualifying in Jeddah, where every millisecond and maneuver counts.
Liam Lawson was briefly under investigation for an unsafe release, but the stewards quickly dropped the matter.
Though the full details of Q2 and Q3 weren’t included in this initial report, Verstappen’s strong performance in Q1 set the tone for the rest of qualifying. The Dutchman continued to show relentless pace, overcoming the McLarens who had looked dominant early on.
Meanwhile, Lando Norris, despite his strong start, saw his hopes dashed after a crash in the later stages of qualifying. His early pace in Q1 promised much, but it ultimately ended in disappointment for the McLaren driver.
Verstappen’s Pole: A Statement Drive
Max Verstappen’s pole came as a surprise not because of a lack of form, but because McLaren had looked so strong early on. Nevertheless, as he often does, Verstappen delivered under pressure, putting together a perfect lap when it counted most.
His pole position wasn’t just about raw speed—it was a reminder of his experience and calm under pressure. Even when others faltered or faced mishaps, Verstappen kept his focus and snatched pole by the slimmest of margins.
The rest of the grid now has the difficult task of trying to match his pace in Sunday’s race. With McLaren showing strong one-lap speed and other teams like Mercedes and Ferrari close behind, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix promises plenty of action.
Stay tuned for updates on Q2 and Q3, as well as full race coverage.
