Night falls in Jeddah, it’s qualifying time: after FP3 where once again the McLarens were ahead of everyone, the rivals would need a bit of magic to upset the expected scenarios. The editorial team at Formula1.it brings you a detailed summary of what happened during the session.
Q1: Feats by Bearman and Gasly
As the lights go green, drivers head straight out on track, with the two Haas drivers, Ocon and Bearman, leading the pack. Everyone uses soft tyres. On the first run, Piastri sets the pace with a 1:28.019, followed by Norris just seven thousandths behind; Leclerc is sixth, and Hamilton tenth. The track quickly improves, allowing drivers to significantly better their lap times.
Some, like the two Ferrari drivers, pit for fresher tyres. On the final run, everyone improves, with Bearman making it into Q2 thanks to a lap that puts him tenth. Antonelli impresses in fourth. Gasly also does well, making it through the cut. The eliminated drivers are: Stroll, Doohan, Hulkenberg, Ocon, Bortoleto.
Q2: Lewis scrapes through
As the second green light comes on, Albon and Bearman are the first to head out, with everyone else following shortly after. Ten minutes from the end, Norris tops the timesheets with a 48-thousandths gap over Verstappen, who sets a strong lap. Leclerc is fifth, Hamilton seventh. There’s a slipstreaming strategy at Williams, with Albon giving Sainz a tow after his own lap, helping the Spaniard put in a good effort to go eighth.
With four minutes to go, after a short pit stop, everyone is back on track for one final lap. Antonelli is on the bubble in tenth. Heart-pounding final seconds for Lewis Hamilton, who scrapes into Q3 by just seven thousandths. Ferrari struggles with both drivers, particularly in Sector 1. Albon just misses out and will start from eleventh. Eliminated in Q2: Alex Albon, Liam Lawson, Fernando Alonso, Isack Hadjar, and Oliver Bearman.
Q3: Costly mistakes
The final ten minutes will decide the pole sitter for the Saudi Arabian GP. Oscar Piastri is first to go and clocks a 1:27.560. The real twist comes from a red flag caused by Lando Norris crashing into the wall. The driver is unhurt but tells his team over the radio that he feels like an idiot. The error proves costly, with the Briton set to start from tenth.
The session is briefly suspended to allow marshals to safely clear the car. When action resumes, Carlos Sainz, Pierre Gasly, and Max Verstappen are the first to hit the track. The two Ferrari drivers choose to make only one attempt. Max Verstappen goes ahead of Oscar Piastri by just one thousandth. Carlos Sainz is third. With four minutes remaining, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton head out, followed by the two Mercedes and Oscar Piastri.
After a lap that temporarily gives him pole, Verstappen returns to the pits for a quick stop before going out again for one final attempt. Meanwhile, Russell puts together a strong lap to edge ahead of the Dutchman and move to the top with a tenth’s advantage.
As Oscar Piastri returns, the Australian improves his previous time to reclaim first position, but you should never underestimate Max Verstappen—he edges out the McLaren and takes pole for the Saudi Arabian GP by just ten thousandths. George Russell is third. Charles Leclerc fourth, Lewis Hamilton seventh. Kimi Antonelli secures an excellent fifth. A great lap from Carlos Sainz sees him claim sixth. Here is the complete classification and starting grid for tomorrow’s race.
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