Max Verstappen took a stunning pole position after championship leader Lando Norris crashed out in a dramatic qualifying session for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Verstappen pipped Oscar Piastri by 0.010s with an incredible lap, similar to his efforts two weeks ago when he converted a surprise pole into victory in Suzuka.
Norris will start in 10th after he spun and hit the wall in the first sector during the first runs in Q3, calling himself an “idiot” on the radio as he could lose the lead in the standings to Piastri or Verstappen in Sunday’s race, live on Sky Sports F1 at 6pm (build-up from 4.30pm).
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Lando Norris suffered a big crash in his McLaren during Q3 at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Norris is just three points ahead of Piastri in the standings and eight points in front of Verstappen, who showed once again that he can never be counted out, even in a theoretically slower car than the McLaren.
George Russell was briefly on pole but settled for third ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli.
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Red Bull’s Max Verstappen did just enough to beat McLaren driver Oscar Piastri to pole around Jeddah Corniche Circuit
Carlos Sainz impressed for Williams in sixth, while Lewis Hamilton survived two elimination scares to qualify seventh.
Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda in eighth and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly in ninth will be the first cars Norris will need to overtake in what could be a pivotal grand prix in the early stages of the F1 title race.
How superb Verstappen capitalised on Norris crash
All the main contenders reached Q3 and McLaren were favourites for pole after they dominated practice in a similar fashion to Bahrain last week, where Piastri qualified first and romped to the win.
Just like seven days ago, Norris made a mistake in the crunch stages of qualifying but this time it had big consequences on the tricky Jeddah Corniche Circuit, which separates the good and great drivers.
Norris took too much kerb at the exit of Turn 4, losing control of his car and spun into the wall on his first flying lap in Q3. The British driver was incredibly frustrated and did not do his confidence any good after admitting he was not fully comfortable with the car coming into Saudi Arabia.
Piastri was the only driver to get a lap time on the board before the red flag came out for Norris’ stricken McLaren. Interestingly, Verstappen was the only front-runner to go for two runs when the session resumed.
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Karun Chandhok was at the SkyPad to look back on Lando Norris’ crash during qualifying for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
The reigning world champion pipped Piastri by 0.001s initially but Russell and the McLaren driver went even quicker, forcing Verstappen to find more time.
Red Bull elected to just change Verstappen’s tyres, leaving no time to refuel the car or change the set-up, so he went back out there and bettered Piastri’s benchmark time again by 0.010s.
“I definitely didn’t expect to be on pole here after FP3 and looking at how the whole weekend was,” said Verstappen, who has won twice in Saudi Arabia.
“The car came alive in the night. We made some final changes and it was a lot more enjoyable to drive. The grip was coming to me and around here, a qualifying lap is extremely difficult because of all the walls – you need to really nail it.
“It’s really satisfying. To be first here in qualifying is of course the best position for tomorrow even though I think in the race it will be difficult to keep them behind. But we will give it a good go. We will do our best.”
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Lewis Hamilton says he was grateful for reaching Q3 and taking seventh in qualifying at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Leclerc got everything out of his Ferrari again in fourth but was 0.376s off the pace. He fared better than Hamilton though, who nearly went out in Q1 and Q2.
The seven-time world champion was slower throughout the lap compared to Leclerc and has not had the same confidence all weekend as his team-mate.
Williams’ Alex Albon was just 0.007s away from knocking Hamilton out in Q2 but will start from 11th ahead of Racing Bull’s Liam Lawson, who achieved his best qualifying result of the season so far.
Sky Sports F1’s Saudi Arabian GP Schedule
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Look back at some of the most dramatic moments to have taken place at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit
Sunday April 20
- 1pm: F1 Academy Race 2
- 2.20pm: F2 Feature Race
- 4.30pm: Saudi Arabian GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday
- 6pm: THE SAUDI ARABIAN GRAND PRIX*
- 8pm: Saudi Arabian GP reaction: Chequered flag
*Also live on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1 completes its first triple-header of 2025 in Jeddah with the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – No contract, cancel anytime
