JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – MARCH 07: Max Verstappen from the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB20 on the track during practice before the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Corniche Circuit in Jeddah on March 7, 2024, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
Verstappen surpassed the poles of Jim Clark and Alain Prost, who had 33 poles each. He is now chasing Sebastian Vettel, former Red Bull driver and four-time Formula 1 champion, who holds the record with 57 poles. Although Verstappen still has a long way to go, it seems like nothing can stop his progress.
The second qualifying session, Q2, set the stage for an exciting final phase. The top three drivers, Verstappen, Leclerc, and Alonso, were separated by less than a tenth of a second.
As the timed laps began, Mercedes drivers Hamilton and Russell were the first to hit the track, followed by Piastri, Perez, Alonso, and Verstappen.
After the first attempt, Verstappen secured provisional pole position, with a lead of over three tenths over Perez in second place and half a second faster than Alonso in third. Leclerc, on the other hand, struggled on his first attempt and was eight tenths behind.
Leclerc expressed his concerns to the team, stating that the car felt strange with the new set of soft tires…
Completing the top ten after the first attempts were Russell, Piastri, Norris, Stroll, Hamilton, and Tsunoda.
With less than four minutes remaining, the second round of laps began. In the end, Verstappen held onto pole position with a time of 1:27.472, 0.319 seconds ahead of Leclerc in the Ferrari.
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The other 15 cars wasted no time and immediately started Q2. Hamilton set the fastest time of the session, with Russell close behind.
Meanwhile, Nico Hulkenberg sent a worrying message to the Haas pit wall, stating that he had lost power. True to his words, he soon parked his car on the side of the track in the escape area of Turn 6.
Unfortunately for Hulkenberg, his race was over when the team instructed him to switch off the car. Shortly before that, the Haas team tried a slipstream move with Kevin Magnussen helping his teammate, which unfortunately broke down shortly after.
The red flag was raised, signaling the suspension of the session with 11 minutes remaining on the clock. Both Mercedes cars, both McLaren cars, and Magnussen from Haas had already set lap times.
Leclerc was on a quick lap, setting the fastest sector one, but had to abort due to Bearman also slowing down. The red flag did not last long and soon the action resumed. All cars lined up in the pitlane, with Bearman being the first to go out.
After all drivers completed their first laps, the order was as follows: Verstappen, Alonso, Leclerc, Norris, Piastri, Perez, Stroll, Russell, Tsunoda, and Hamilton.
Fernando Alonso showcased his skills tonight by securing second place, just 0.044 seconds behind Verstappen.
At the end of Q2, Verstappen once again set the fastest time, with 1:28.033. This put him 0.079 seconds ahead of Leclerc, with Alonso closely following the Ferrari driver by 0.010 seconds in third place.
The first driver to be eliminated was Oliver Bearman, who fought bravely but couldn’t make it into Q3 by just 0.036 seconds, narrowly losing to Hamilton. Bearman expressed his apologies over the radio, acknowledging the confusing session.
Alex Albon secured the 12th fastest time in the Williams, trailing Bearman by 0.374 seconds. He was followed by Magnussen in the Haas, who was 0.040 seconds behind Albon, finishing in 13th place overall. Daniel Ricciardo, driving for RB, achieved the 14th fastest time, surpassing Hulkenberg, who was unable to complete a lap.
The qualifying session began at the Corniche Circuit in Jeddah under the floodlights. The track temperature was 31 degrees Celsius, while the ambient temperature was 25 degrees. Numerous drivers eagerly awaited the green light, lining up in the pitlane to start their qualifying session.
Meanwhile, in the Sauber garage, mechanics worked frantically to repair Zhou Guanyu’s car after his crash in FP3. Despite the time pressure, they worked hard to get the car ready for Zhou to return to the track.
Four minutes after the start of Q1, all drivers except Verstappen, Perez, Ricciardo, Tsunoda, and Zhou had gone out on track. Each car was equipped with soft tires for the initial laps, except for Mercedes drivers Hamilton and Russell, who opted for mediums.
During the session, a replay showed one of the Williams cars obstructing Hulkenberg, leading to his frustration. Piastri also had a slight moment of imbalance coming out of the final corner during a fast lap, but managed to continue without any damage.
Russell received a black and white flag for ignoring the race director’s instructions and crossing the white line at the pitlane entry.
Halfway through the session, the Red Bull drivers took to the track and completed their first fast laps, with Verstappen immediately taking the lead. After the initial attempts, the order was as follows: Verstappen, Leclerc, Alonso, Piastri, Perez, Norris, Bearman, Magnussen, Albon, Stroll, Hulkenberg, Ricciardo, Tsunoda, Hamilton, Russell (Mercedes times set on medium tires).
The Mercedes duo later returned to the track on soft tires, aiming to improve their lap times. TV images captured Zhou stuck in his Sauber, while mechanics worked diligently to assemble the car with less than five minutes remaining. Zhou managed to get back on track with two minutes on the clock, showing the exceptional effort of his mechanics.
Verstappen took the lead in Q2 with a time of 1:28.171, which was already faster than Perez’s pole time in 2023. Stroll came in second, 0.079s behind, with Leclerc in third, 0.147s behind. Bearman finished in ninth place.
Valtteri Bottas was the first driver to be eliminated from qualifying, falling short by 0.072s to Albon. Bottas will start the race from 16th on the grid.
It was a disappointing night for Alpine, as Esteban Ocon finished in 17th place, 0.296s behind Bottas, and Pierre Gasly was 18th, just 0.004s behind Ocon.
Logan Sargeant secured 19th position, while Zhou failed to set a time despite going out on track.
© 2024
The world of sports is full of surprises and emotions, and 2024 was no exception. Since the beginning of the year, fans have been treated to a series of exciting sporting events. Let’s take a look at some of the highlights of the year so far.
In football, the 2024 World Cup was one of the most anticipated events. The best teams in the world gathered to compete for the title. Brazil, with its talented squad, showed its strength and lifted the trophy. The games were full of action and drama, keeping fans glued to their screens.
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In addition to traditional sports, action sports also had their place in 2024. Skateboarding, for example, made its debut at the Olympic Games and captivated the audience with incredible maneuvers. Athletes displayed impressive skills and took the sport to a new level. This inclusion brought a new energy to the Games and opened doors for other action sports in the future.
In summary, 2024 has been an exciting year for sports fans. With high-level events in various disciplines, there was no shortage of entertainment and excitement. Athletes showcased their talent and dedication, providing unforgettable moments for the audience. And there is still much more to come, so keep following sports news to not miss anything!
