Max Verstappen claimed his first-ever pole position in Jeddah, securing the first spot on the grid for tomorrow’s 2024 Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
The Dutchman will be joined on the front row by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who finished three-tenths back from the World Champion, with Sergio Perez third.
Nighttime in Jeddah set the stage for qualifying in Saudi Arabia, with the one-lap pace pecking order once again looking tight as it had last week in Bahrain.
The sole representative practice session had seen Fernando Alonso lead proceedings for Aston Martin amongst a field that was spread by just 1.326 seconds.
The watching crowd was looking Ferrari’s way as 18-year-old Oliver Bearman set out to take on his first F1 qualifying session as a stand-in for the unwell Carlos Sainz.
It was all action in Sauber garage as mechanics frantically tried to repair Zhou Guanyu’s C44 in time for qualifying after he sustained damage in a crash during FP3.
As the opening segment of qualifying reached half distance, Pierre Gasly, Logan Sargeant, Valtteri Bottas Esteban Ocon and the stricken Zhou were the drivers at risk.
Following an incredible effort from the mechanics, Zhou went out with just under two minutes remaining, but the Chinese driver failed to make the line in time to set a lap.
Verstappen ultimately set the pace in Q1, posting a 1:28.171s laptime, 0.079s ahead of Lance Stroll and 0.147s ahead of Charles Leclerc.
Bottas, Ocon, Gasly, Sargeant and Zhou were all eliminated at the first opportunity, meaning Ferrari rookie Bearman progressed, putting in a fine ninth-fastest time in Q1.
From Q1 to Q2 and 15 minutes for drivers to force their way into the Q3 top-10 shootout.
Sadly for Nico Hulkenberg, he wouldn’t be able to repeat his Bahrain qualifying heroics, with his Haas coming to a halt on track in Sector 1, pulling up alongside the barriers and triggering a delayed red flag.
The session resumed at 20:34 local time, with just under 11 minutes left to run and just four drivers having set a representative time.
With just over five minutes remaining, Verstappen topped the timesheet with a 1:28.078s time, with Alonso just 0.044s shy.
At risk were Kevin Magnussen, Daniel Ricciardo, Alex Albon and Oliver Bearman (no time) with Hulkenberg already out due to his technical trouble.
Verstappen made his way through to Q3 after remaining atop the leaderboard in Q2 ahead of Alonso and Leclerc.
A valiant effort from Bearman saw him just miss out on making it into the top-10 shootout, finishing just 0.036s shy of 10th-place Lewis Hamilton.
“That was a messy situation, sorry about that,” was the 18-year-old’s call over the team radio after brushes with the walls and kerb riding contributed to his exit.
Albon, Magnussen, Ricciardo and Hulkenberg completed the quintet that dropped out in Q2.
Q3 saw Red Bull, Mercedes, McLaren and Aston Martin fully represented with Lecelrc and Yuki Tsunoda taking part for Ferrari and RB respectively.
All indications pointed toward a maiden Saudi Arabian GP pole for reigning World Champion Verstappen as he set the provisionally fastest time, a 1:27.472s benchmark with Perez 0.335s back and Alonso half a second in arrears.
Leclerc, a one-lap specialist was left with work to do after his first run only left him in fourth position.
The Monagasque driver complained his scarlet red SF-24 felt weird on new tyres, an issue that plagued his Q3 performance in Bahrain.
As the clock struck past four minutes remaining, the 10 F1 gladiators donned new soft tyres and set about chasing the ultimate lap around the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
However, nobody could topple Verstappen who was left unchallenged to take his maiden pole in Saudi Arabia.
Leclerc improved to second, albeit 0.319s back from Verstappen’s time.
Perez and Alonso will form the second row for Saturday’s Grand Prix with McLaren securing a third-row lockout as Oscar Piastri pipped Lando Norris to fifth.
Row four will be occupied by the Silver Arrows, with Russell seventh and Hamilton eighth.
RB’s Tsunoda and Alonso’s Aston Martin teammate Lance Stroll rounded out the top-10 order in qualifying, with 1.1s the Q3 spread.
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