Max Verstappen secured the first position in the qualifying for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after an impressive performance in the third session. Verstappen has been dominant in the last two seasons and had a remarkable race in 2023. With the current world champion determined to win the title this year, Verstappen started strong by winning the Bahrain Grand Prix and securing pole position for the next race. Interestingly, the Dutch driver admitted that his last lap reminded him of a mistake he made three years ago.
In Jeddah, Verstappen outpaced the Ferrari driver by over three tenths of a second to secure pole position. The three-time world champion was impressed by the high-speed nature of the street circuit and expressed his satisfaction with his final lap in the qualifying session. He also mentioned that this particular lap brought back memories of his failed qualifying attempt during the inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in 2021. At that time, Verstappen was on course to secure pole position but made a mistake in the final corner, allowing his competitor to snatch pole position and ultimately win the race. This time, however, the 26-year-old driver was content as he completed his exceptional lap successfully.
Verstappen feels comfortable and confident with the Red Bull RB20, designed by Adrian Newey. During the Bahrain Grand Prix last weekend, he managed to establish a significant lead of almost five seconds in the early laps. Eventually, Verstappen crossed the finish line with an impressive 22-second advantage over the second-placed driver.
Looking at the race in Jeddah, Verstappen is determined to come out as the winner. He is on track to break his own record of consecutive wins this season. However, he may face competition from Charles Leclerc and Ferrari, who will certainly give the Dutch driver a run for his money. On the other hand, Sergio Perez has openly admitted that he does not feel as comfortable with the RB20 as Verstappen.
Undoubtedly, Max Verstappen is the favorite to win the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The three-time world champion consistently performs at the highest level, and fans are eager to see how he will fare on the streets of Jeddah during the race.
