Another pole for Max
VERSTAPPEN JOINED BY LECLERC ON FRONT ROW IN JEDDAH
Max Verstappen claimed pole for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after qualifying in Jeddah yesterday. Red Bull’s three-time world champion is joined on the front row of Saturday’s race by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, just as he was last week in the season-opener in Bahrain.
And the Dutch driver, who has proved impervious to the offtrack storm over Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, will be hot favourite to make it two wins from two on this street circuit.
Sergio Perez in the other Red Bull is on the second row with Fernando Alonso for company.
Aston Martin’s Spanish veteran had high hopes of securing his first pole since 2012 but in the end had to settle for the fourth fastest time in qualifying.
McLaren duo Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris occupy the third row, ahead of the two Mercedes of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.
Yuki Tsunoda (RB) and Lance Stroll in the second Aston Martin rounded out the top 10.
British teenager Oliver Bearman, who was a dramatic last minute call up to replace appendicitis-victim Carlos Sainz by Ferrari, did a sterling job to make it through the first qualifying session, the 18-year-old starting from 11th spot on the grid.
“Carlos Sainz has been diagnosed with appendicitis and will require surgery,” the Italian team said on the eve of Saturday’s race in Jeddah.
“Oliver will therefore take no further part in this round of the F2 Championship. The Ferrari family wishes Carlos a speedy recovery.”
Sainz, 29, was unwell on Wednesday, but took part in both of Thursday’s practice sessions although he felt severely ill with stomach and abdominal complaints.
His misfortune has opened up an unexpected opportunity for Bearman to make his Formula One debut.
The teenager who has been a member of the Ferrari academy since 2021, has participated in two Formula One practice sessions with Haas, impressing in both, and is regarded as a major talent for the future.
But it was not anticipated that he would be replacing Sainz to drive in qualifying and a race so soon and not before seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton arrives as Sainz’s replacement from Mercedes next year.
Bearman became the youngest British driver to take part in a Grand Prix weekend with Haas in Mexico last October.
He made his Formula Two debut last year, dominating at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix where he became the first driver in the category to top every session and win the feature race.
Sainz, who won in Singapore last season to prevent a Red Bull clean sweep, said after Thursday practice “it has been a very difficult day for me as I haven’t fully recovered from the sickness that has kept me in bed for the last 24 hours and I still feel very weak”.