Max Verstappen secured pole position for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in record time, narrowly edging out McLaren’s Oscar Piastri by just 0.010 seconds.
The dramatic qualifying session saw multiple lead changes before Verstappen sealed top spot with a 1:27.294 lap under the lights at the Corniche circuit.
Mercedes’ George Russell and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc will start from the second row, while 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli impressed with fifth for Mercedes.
Liam Lawson achieved his best qualifying result of the season in 12th, outpacing teammate Isack Hadjar.
McLaren’s Lando Norris, who led earlier sessions, crashed into the wall in Q3, bringing out red flags and finishing 10th.
Despite the incident, he was unhurt and called himself “an idiot” over team radio.
Lewis Hamilton scraped into the final shootout in seventh, while Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll struggled, qualifying 13th and 16th respectively. Verstappen, who won last year’s race, acknowledged the challenge ahead but vowed, “We will give it a good go.”
