Max Verstappen seized pole position for the highly anticipated Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after a jaw-dropping crash by Lando Norris during the qualifying session in Jeddah.
The championship leader, Norris, saw his chances of securing pole position vanish in an instant as he lost control of his car at the beginning of his flying lap in Q3. The crash left him in 10th place on the grid, unable to set a competitive time.
In a dramatic turn of events, Verstappen capitalized on Norris’ misfortune and clinched pole position by a mere 0.001 seconds. The Dutchman’s strategic decision to do two qualifying laps, including a racing pit stop for fresh tires, paid off brilliantly.
Following Verstappen closely was Oscar Piastri, who briefly held the top spot before being edged out by the Red Bull driver. George Russell also made an impressive showing, securing the third spot on the grid just 0.113 seconds behind Verstappen.
The top four positions on the grid featured drivers from four different teams, showcasing the intense competition in Formula 1. Charles Leclerc from Ferrari claimed the fourth spot, with Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Carlos Sainz following closely behind.
Meanwhile, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton had to settle for seventh place, trailing behind his teammate Leclerc. Yuki Tsunoda and Pierre Gasly rounded up the top nine qualifiers, with Norris starting from a disappointing 11th position.
The qualifying session also saw surprises and disappointments, with some drivers missing out on advancing to Q3 by mere fractions of a second. Lance Stroll, Jack Doohan, Nico Hulkenberg, Esteban Ocon, and Gabriel Bortoleto faced setbacks during qualifying, highlighting the unforgiving nature of the sport.
As the stage is set for an electrifying race in Saudi Arabia, all eyes will be on Verstappen as he aims to convert his pole position into a crucial victory in the championship battle.