The F1 world was left in shock as Lando Norris crashed out of qualifying for the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, paving the way for Max Verstappen to claim a surprising pole position at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. This unexpected turn of events has major implications for the championship standings, with Norris now starting from 10th on the grid.
Despite a strong showing in Q1 and Q2, Norris’s qualifying session came to an abrupt end when he lost control of his McLaren and collided with the wall at Turn 5. This mistake opened the door for Verstappen, Oscar Piastri, and George Russell to potentially overtake the British driver in the championship race.
Verstappen seized the opportunity and delivered a stellar performance, clocking a time of 1:27.294 to secure pole position, narrowly edging out Piastri by 0.010 seconds. Russell also impressed, finishing just 0.113 seconds behind Verstappen in his Mercedes.
The stage is now set for an exhilarating Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Sunday, April 20, where Verstappen will aim to replicate his recent success at the Japanese GP. Can he fend off the competition and maintain his lead in the championship standings?
The full qualifying results for the 2025 Saudi Arabian GP are as follows:
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 1:27.294
2. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – Gap: +0.010
3. George Russell (Mercedes) – Gap: +0.113
4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – Gap: +0.376
5. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – Gap: +0.572
6. Carlos Sainz (Williams) – Gap: +0.870
7. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – Gap: +0.907
8. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) – Gap: +0.910
9. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – Gap: +1.073
10. Lando Norris (McLaren) – No Time
The battle for victory in the desert promises to be intense, with Verstappen leading the charge. Stay tuned for what is sure to be a thrilling race in Saudi Arabia.
