Verstappen has performed another miracle: Red Bull pole in Jeddah.

Although everyone expected the McLaren battle from the qualification, Max Verstappen delivered something only Max Verstappen can.

The Q1 started as the whole weekend had gone so far: The two McLarens quickly took the lead and dictated the pace to the field. Sometimes Lando Norris, sometimes Oscar Piastri led the pack, with the two Red Bulls still showing relevant strength behind them. This is how we stood after the first timed laps, then the Mercedes and Williams, which performed well in all three practice sessions, joined the match. In the end, Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, and Oscar Piastri finished at the top in this stage, while we had to say goodbye early to Esteban Ocon, Nico Hülkenberg, Jack Doohan, as well as Lance Stroll and Gabriel Bortoletto.

The Q2 did not bring much change, Verstappen continued to fight with the two McLarens, and seeing the Dutchman, we increasingly felt that he was setting times out of the Red Bull that aren't even in that car. However, the real excitement unfolded at the top 10 boundary, as Alex Albon failed to advance, but surprisingly Carlos Sainz made it through, while the two Racing Bulls and Fernando Alonso, as well as Bearman, were eliminated. The top 3 eventually finished in the order of Norris, Verstappen, Piastri, from which the pole position will likely emerge.

In Q3, we expected a great battle, but then Lando Norris came and smashed it all... Well, that's not entirely true, because he only crashed the McLaren and his own qualifying time into the wall, but with that, he also exited the further race. Red flag! After a short time, the battle continued, where Verstappen delivered an incredible lap, followed by Piastri by a mere thousandth. However, George Russell did not hesitate either, who put together an even stronger lap than theirs. At first... Because then came Max Verstappen, and he cast his spell again, beating Oscar Piastri and also the sensationally leading George Russell.

If tomorrow's Saudi Grand Prix is only half as good, we would easily sign up for it...

Photo: Lat Images / F1