Max Verstappen secures pole position for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Alongside the Dutchman, Oscar Piastri completes the front row of the grid for the night race in Jeddah.
19.04.2025, 20:26
19.04.2025, 22:24
SDA
Verstappen outpaced the Australian in the McLaren-Mercedes by ten thousandths. For the world champion in the Red Bull, it is the second pole position this season after the one in Suzuka.
In Japan, he took advantage of the top starting position to take the 64th GP win of his career, the only one so far this season. Verstappen won in Jeddah, where Formula 1 races have been held since 2021, in 2022 and 2024.
On the second row behind Verstappen and two-time season winner Piastri on the grid for the fifth Grand Prix of the season are George Russell in the Mercedes and Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari.
Only grid position 10 for Norris after crash
World championship leader Lando Norris, on the other hand, saw his chances for Sunday's race (start at 19:00) severely compromised. Under floodlights on the street circuit in Jeddah, the Briton crashed his McLaren into the track wall at the start of the third part of qualifying.
His crash led to an almost 15-minute interruption in the battle for pole position. For Norris, who was uninjured, his mistake meant that he was only 10th on the grid for the GP - and his mechanics had a lot of work to do to get the car back on track.
Hülkenberg and Bortoleto a long way back
The Sauber team drivers had to make do with grid positions at the back of the grid in Saudi Arabia. Nico Hülkenberg will start the race from 18th on the grid. Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto, who was slower than the experienced German for the fourth time in a row in the team's internal qualifying duel, will start from 20th on the grid.
