Becoming The Fastest, Red Bull Racer Verstappen Claims Pole Both This Season At The Saudi Arabian GP

JAKARTA - Red Bull Racer Max Verstappen maintains dominance by claiming his second pole in Formula 1 season 2024. This is after becoming the fastest in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix qualifying session, Saturday WIB.

Verstappen recorded a fastest lap time that was more impressive than the record in three free practice sessions held at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, with 1 minute 27,472 seconds.

He is ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who continues to be one of his toughest competitors in the opening two races of the season, with only 0.319 seconds adrift of the reigning champions.

This is the second time Leclerc has been in second place in the race for the front position with Verstappen, having previously finished in the same position at the Bahrain GP, some time ago.

The polesitter and winner of the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Sergio Perez, also proved himself still worthy to defend his title even though he finished third with a margin of 0.335 seconds from his team-mate.

In fourth place, there is veteran Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) who has performed cleverly and patiently to be included in the list of the five fastest riders in qualifying for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix this time. He has a time difference of 0.374 seconds from the race leader.

Being behind him, was the young Oscar Piastri (McLaren) racer who managed to win fifth place from his team-mate, Lando Norris. Piastri has a margin of 0.617 seconds from Verstappen, while Norris has to settle for sixth place with a difference of 0.043 seconds from his fellow racer in the papaya color uniform.

Complementing the top 10 list, there are George Russell (Mercedes), Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), Yuki Tsunoda (RB), and Lance Stroll (Aston Martin).

On the other hand, Ferrari's young racer Oliver Bearman was close to being able to break the list of the 10 fastest riders in his F1 debut race, after only being narrowly adrift of Stroll.

After this, the racers will prepare to face the main race of the Saudi Arabian GP which will be held on Sunday (10/3) at 00.00 WIB.