Reigning world champion Max Verstappen will begin the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in pole position, beating off McLaren’s in-form driver, Oscar Piastri, by a hair’s breath at the end of qualifying in Jeddah on Saturday.
The Dutchman started off on semi-used tyres, before switching to fresh tyres as he produced a scintillating final lap at the very end of Q3 at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit to claim pole by just 0.010s clear of Piastri .
It is Verstappen’s second pole position of the year as he seeks to defend his world title whilst gunning for championship number five.
Meanwhile, championship leader Lando Norris crashed out of qualifying at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and will start in 10th place on the grid. Mercedes driver George Russell was third, followed by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and fellow team-mate Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Carlos Sainz of Williams placed sixth ahead of seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton who finished seventh. to sixth place, Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly make up the top ten drivers on the starting grid for Sunday’s night-time race.