Verstappen Secures Pole Position in Thrilling Saudi Arabian Qualifying
Max Verstappen delivered a stunning performance to clinch pole position for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, narrowly beating Oscar Piastri by just 0.010 seconds amid a dramatic qualifying session that saw Lando Norris crash out early in Q3.
Entering the session as the favorites after impressive practice runs, McLaren drivers Norris and Piastri were expected to contend for the top spot. However, disaster struck for Norris when he lost control and collided with the wall at the exit of Turn 5, bringing his session to a premature end and triggering a red flag.
As the session resumed, the competition heated up. George Russell briefly took the top spot before Piastri responded with a quick lap. Yet, Verstappen, driving for Red Bull, showcased his skill with a blistering time of 1:27.294, securing pole position just as the clock ticked down. Piastri’s impressive lap placed him second, while Russell finished in third.
“[I’m] very happy,” Verstappen said after the session. “I definitely didn’t expect to be on pole here, especially after FP3. The car came alive in the night, and it was a lot more enjoyable to drive. A qualifying lap around here is extremely difficult because of all the walls, so it’s really satisfying to be first.”
The top five was rounded out by Charles Leclerc in fourth and Kimi Antonelli in fifth, while Carlos Sainz delivered a solid performance to claim sixth for Williams. Lewis Hamilton, still adapting to his new Ferrari, managed to secure seventh place despite struggling with pace throughout the session.
The qualifying drama didn’t stop there. Norris, who had been a standout performer in practice, was left with no time on the board due to his early exit, ultimately placing him in tenth. His crash not only ended his hopes for a strong grid position but also left the McLaren team with questions to answer ahead of the race.
The session saw several close calls and narrow eliminations, with Alex Albon missing out on Q3 by a mere 0.007 seconds. Fernando Alonso and Liam Lawson also fell short, finishing 13th and 12th respectively, while rookie Gabriel Bortoleto suffered a spin that left him in 20th.
As the teams prepare for the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, set to begin at 20:00 local time on Sunday, all eyes will be on Verstappen as he aims to convert his pole position into a race victory in one of the most challenging circuits on the calendar.
