Red Bull's Max Verstappen nailed pole from McLaren's Oscar Piastri for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in a gripping qualifying session on Saturday.
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MAX VERSTAPPEN IS ON POLE!! 💨💨
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 19, 2025
What an incredible lap from the Red Bull driver! 👏#F1 #SaudiArabianGP pic.twitter.com/NbaPkd2vCb
Piastri's teammate, championship leader Lando Norris, crashed in the top 10 shoot-out and will start on the fifth row of Sunday's race.
This is the moment that cost Lando Norris a chance at pole position tonight 😮🔽#F1 #SaudiArabianGP pic.twitter.com/QvzYSUYrha
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 19, 2025
Four-time world champion Verstappen was in unstoppable form under the floodlights on the high-speed Jeddah Corniche Circuit, grabing the front of the grid by one hundredth of a second.
It was a huge turnaround for the Dutchman after he and his Red Bull team had struggled in Bahrain last weekend.
"Very happy! I definitely didn't expect to be on pole here," said a beaming Verstappen.
"The car came alive in the night, we made some final changes and it was more enjoyable to drive, the grip was coming to me.
"I think tomorrow in the race, it will be tough to keep them (McLaren) behind, but we'll give it a good go," he added.
A tantalising grid is set! 👊
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 19, 2025
Here's how the field will line up for tomorrow's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 👇#F1 #SaudiArabianGP pic.twitter.com/SHGqzSMob6
Norris leads the drivers' standings by three points from Piastri with Verstappen five points back ahead of this fifth round of the 24-race season.
George Russell sets off on the second row in his Mercedes alongside the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc.
Kimi Antonelli in the other Mercedes is on the third row with Carlos Sainz in a Williams.
Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, Yuki Tsunoda in the second Red Bull, Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Norris completed the top 10.