Max Verstappen Claims Pole in Dramatic Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Qualifying Under the Lights at Jeddah
Max Verstappen delivered a stunning performance to snatch pole position for the Formula 1 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, edging out Oscar Piastri by a mere 0.010 seconds in a thrilling and drama-filled qualifying session at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. The session was marred by Lando Norris’s heavy crash early in Q3, which triggered a red flag and set the stage for a fierce pole battle.
Formula 1 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Qualifying Results:
Q3
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 1:27.294
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 1:27.304
- George Russell (Mercedes) – 1:27.407
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 1:27.670
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 1:27.866
- Carlos Sainz (Williams) – 1:28.164
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – 1:28.201
- Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) – 1:28.204
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – 1:28.367
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – DNF
Q2
- Alex Albon (Williams) – 1:28.109
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – 1:28.191
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – 1:28.303
- Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) – 1:28.418
- Oliver Bearman (Haas) – 1:28.648
Q1
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – 1:28.645
- Jack Doohan (Alpine) – 1:28.739
- Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) – 1:28.782
- Esteban Ocon (Haas) – 1:29.092
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) – 1:29.462
Qualifying As It Happened
Q1: Verstappen Leads as McLarens Shine Early
McLaren looked like the team to beat after dominating practice, and early signs suggested a close fight. Oscar Piastri initially topped the timesheets before Norris displaced him, with Verstappen slotting into third. Late improvements saw Verstappen surge to the top with a 1m 27.778s. Meanwhile, Lance Stroll, Jack Doohan, Nico Hulkenberg, Esteban Ocon, and Gabriel Bortoleto were eliminated after Q1, with Bortoleto spinning at Turn 1. Neither of the Saubers made it to Q2.
Q2: Norris Tops the Timesheets, Hamilton Scrapes Through
In the second segment, Lando Norris continued McLaren’s strong form, setting a 1m 27.481s lap to lead Verstappen by four-hundredths. Drama unfolded as Lewis Hamilton narrowly made it into Q3 after a late improvement, while Alex Albon missed out by just 0.007s. Liam Lawson, Fernando Alonso, Isack Hadjar, and Ollie Bearman also failed to advance.
Q3: Verstappen’s Brilliance and Norris’s Heartbreak
The final shootout began with Piastri setting the benchmark. However, Norris lost control over the kerbs at Turn 5, crashing heavily into the barriers and bringing out the red flags. After the restart, George Russell briefly held provisional pole before Piastri reclaimed the top spot. In the dying moments, Verstappen unleashed a 1m 27.294s lap, clinching pole by the narrowest of margins.
George Russell settled for third ahead of Charles Leclerc and Ferrari rookie Kimi Antonelli. Carlos Sainz impressed with sixth for Williams, followed by Lewis Hamilton, Yuki Tsunoda, Pierre Gasly, and Norris—who remained 10th after his crash prevented any timed lap.
What’s Next
The 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix gets underway on Sunday at 2000 local time, with Verstappen aiming to convert his pole into another dominant victory while Piastri, Russell, and the rest of the field look to challenge the reigning World Champion under the floodlights.
