Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: Verstappen takes pole
Dark. Dry. +29C, highway +38...37C
All five wins this season, including the sprint in China, came from pole position. The value of a good qualifying result has increased even on those tracks where it is easy to overtake, and Jeddah is not one of them – last year the top ten at the start was almost the same as the top ten at the finish.
Qualifying in Jeddah is interesting with a high degree of risk – the riders have to attack close to the walls in order to achieve a good result, which adds an element of unpredictability. However, only Tsunoda from Red Bull had an accident in training.
In training, the drivers gradually increased their pace, but the McLaren drivers were in the lead – Lando Norris led the protocol on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon.
This year, tire manufacturers have brought tires to Saudi Arabia one step softer than last season – C3, C4 and C5 in the role of Hard, Medium and Soft. Previously, this three was used at the first stage in Australia.
By evening, the air temperature had barely changed, but the asphalt had cooled by ten degrees. The wind died down, the grip improved.
In the first session, everyone went to Soft. The beginners were the first to go to the track, then the rest joined. In the first attempt, Piastri showed the best time – 1:28.019, 0.007 seconds. ahead of Norris.
Hajjar hit the wall at the exit of the last corner and returned to the pits to check. Alpine forgot to remove the thermal cover from the right front wheel of the car, it went out before leaving the track, he drove a couple of meters and stopped so that the mechanics removed the cover.
In the second attempt, Norris first led the record with 1:27.805, then Verstappen drove faster – 1:27.778.
Elbon noticeably hit the wall in turn 16 with the front left wheel, Bortoleto turned around in the first corner - the cars were not damaged.
Despite the great length and complexity of the track, the results were solid, with 15 riders fitting into eight tenths. Stroll, Duane, Hulkenberg, Okon and Bortoleto dropped out of the fight.
In the second session, everyone also went to Soft. In the first attempt, Norris showed the best time, completing a lap in 1:27.481, five hundredths ahead of Verstappen.
Lawson missed the first attempt, but drove out in the second.
In the second attempt, the results of Norris and Hamilton held up. Albon, Lawson, Alonso, Hajjar and Berman did not qualify for the finals.
In the final, Piastri managed to lead the record with 1:27.560, when the session was stopped with red flags – Norris crashed the car.
On a fast lap, the championship leader pressed the accelerator too hard, the car jerked to the side on the curb between turn 4 and Turn 5, and it crashed into the wall with its left side. Norris reported that he was fine, but was sent to the medical center for a check – a dangerous overload sensor was triggered.
It took time to evacuate the car and remove the wreckage. The riders were able to continue fighting after nine minutes.
After the restart, Verstappen drove out first and topped the record with 1:27.559, completing a six-kilometer lap one thousandth faster than Piastri.
The others had one crucial attempt left. Russell was the first to beat the time with 1:27.407, then Piastri led the record with 1:27.304, but Max was faster again with 1:27.294, which is now the new absolute track record in Jeddah.
Max Verstappen won qualifying in Jeddah, taking his second pole at this track, his second of the season and the 42nd of his career. Tomorrow he will share the front row with Oscar Piastri, who lost one hundredth. Russell and Leclair will start from the second, Antonelli and Sainz from the third.
Qualification results
Pilot
Team
1st session
2nd session
3rd session
M
Time
Kr
M
Time
Kr
M
Time
Kr
1. M.Verstappen
Red Bull
1
1:27.778
6
2
1:27.529
6
1
1:27.294
7
2. O. Piastri
McLaren
3
1:27.901
6
3
1:27.545
6
2
1:27.304
6
3. D.Russell
Mercedes
7
1:28.282
5
4
1:27.599
6
3
1:27.407
5
4. S.Leclair
Ferrari
13
1:28.552
8
6
1:27.866
6
4
1:27.670
5
5. K.Antonelli
Mercedes
4
1:28.128
6
5
1:27.798
6
5
1:27.866
5
6. K.Sainz
Williams
8
1:28.354
9
8
1:28.024
6
6
1:28.164
8
7. L.Hamilton
Ferrari
9
1:28.372
9
10
1:28.102
6
7
1:28.201
5
8. Yu.Tsunoda
Red Bull
5
1:28.226
6
7
1:27.990
6
8
1:28.204
4
9. P.Gasli
Alpine
10
1:28.421
9
9
1:28.025
6
9
1:28.367
7
10. L. Norris
McLaren
2
1:27.805
6
1
1:27.481
3
10
–
2
11. A.Elbon
Williams
6
1:28.279
8
11
1:28.109
6
12. L. Lawson
Racing Bulls
14
1:28.561
6
12
1:28.191
5
13. F. Alonso
Aston Martin
12
1:28.548
8
13
1:28.303
6
14. A. Hajjar
Racing Bulls
15
1:28.571
6
14
1:28.418
6
15. O. Berman
Haas
11
1:28.536
9
15
1:28.648
6
16. L.Stroll
Aston Martin
16
1:28.645
9
17. D.Duane
Alpine
17
1:28.739
9
18. N. Hulkenberg
Sauber
18
1:28.782
8
19. E.Okon
Haas
19
1:29.092
9
20. The city of Bortoleto
Sauber
20
1:29.462
8
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