Max Verstappen secured the top spot in qualifying for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after an impressive performance in the third session. Verstappen has been dominant in the last two seasons and had a remarkable run in 2023. With the reigning world champion determined to win the title this year, Verstappen started off strong by winning the Bahrain Grand Prix and claiming pole position for the upcoming race. Interestingly, the Dutch driver admitted that his latest lap reminded him of a mistake he made three years ago.
In Jeddah, Verstappen outperformed Ferrari’s driver by more than three-tenths of a second to secure pole position. The three-time world champion was impressed by the high-speed nature of the street circuit and expressed his delight with his final lap in the qualifying session. He also mentioned that this particular lap brought back memories of his failed qualifying attempt during the inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in 2021. Back then, Verstappen was on track to secure pole position but made an error in the final corner, allowing his competitor to take pole position and ultimately win the race. This time, however, the 26-year-old was satisfied as he successfully completed his outstanding lap.
Verstappen feels comfortable and confident with the Red Bull RB20, designed by Adrian Newey. During the Bahrain Grand Prix last weekend, he managed to establish a significant lead of nearly five seconds in the opening laps. Eventually, Verstappen crossed the finish line with an impressive 22-second lead over the second-placed driver.
Looking ahead to the race in Jeddah, Verstappen is determined to emerge as the victor. He is on track to potentially break his own record for consecutive race wins this season. However, he may face competition from Charles Leclerc and Ferrari, who will certainly give the Dutch driver a run for his money. On the other hand, Sergio Perez has openly admitted that he doesn’t feel as comfortable with the RB20 as Verstappen does.
Undoubtedly, Max Verstappen is the favorite to win the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The three-time world champion consistently performs at the highest level, and fans are eagerly anticipating how he will fare on the streets of Jeddah during the race.