Max Verstappen, representing Red Bull Racing, secured pole position in the Saudi Arabian Formula 1 Grand Prix. Verstappen compared this thrilling race to the qualifying session in 2021, when he hit the wall. During the final corner, Verstappen slid and made contact with the barrier, but managed to recover from that mistake. In his two previous visits to the race, Verstappen faced challenges that prevented him from securing pole position. However, he overcame these obstacles and set an exceptional opening lap, claiming his first pole in Saudi Arabia. Although he couldn’t improve on his second attempt, Verstappen expressed his satisfaction with his performance and his car’s behavior. He acknowledged the importance of confidence and pushing the limits on a circuit like Jeddah. Verstappen aimed to improve his lap time, but made a mistake in turns 9 and 10, leading him to abandon the lap. Despite this setback, Verstappen maintained his three-tenths advantage over Charles Leclerc from Ferrari, highlighting Red Bull’s strong pace. Verstappen emphasized the potential for chaos due to the proximity of the barriers in Jeddah. He recognized that the race would not be easy and expressed confidence in his car’s performance.
