Overview

• Max Verstappen claimed pole position for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix with a 1m27.294s lap, narrowly beating Oscar Piastri by 0.010 seconds.
• Lando Norris, who leads the championship standings, crashed in Q3 at Turns 4 and 5, leaving him to start Sunday's race from tenth position.
• George Russell qualified third for Mercedes, with Charles Leclerc in fourth for Ferrari, highlighting a competitive mix among the top teams.
• McLaren dominated practice sessions, with Norris and Piastri showcasing strong pace, but Verstappen's Red Bull 'came alive' under floodlights during qualifying.
• The Jeddah Corniche Circuit, a high-speed street track, has historically favored pole sitters, setting up a challenging race for Norris to retain his championship lead.