F1 Saudi Arabia GP Qualifying: Max Verstappen P3 after hitting barrier

F1 Saudi Arabia GP Qualifying: Max Verstappen P3 after hitting barrier

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton secured pole position for F1′s inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix as Red Bull’s Max Verstappen clipped the barrier on the exit of the final corner, damaging his rear suspension.

Q1

Williams’ George Russell was at the head of the queue, ahead of qualifying as the field wanted to get out immediately – due to the length and nature of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

The Mercedes duo, Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton were the last ones to leave their garages.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen set the benchmark for the front runners to beat with a 1:28.659 lap but it was soon beaten by Hamilton with a 1:28.466 (0.193 seconds faster than his championship rival, Verstappen).

However, his best timed lap was soon beaten by Sergio Perez (Red Bull), Bottas, Verstappen, Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) and Lando Norris (McLaren), respectively.

As Q1 came to a close, Bottas reported to his pit wall that his engine was ‘misfiring.’ When the Finn returned to the pit lane, he stopped in front of the weigh-bridge as his engine stopped. Fortunately, the Mercedes mechanics were able to push the #77 car into his garage.

Eliminated

20. Nikita Mazepin, Haas

19. Mick Schumacher, Haas

18. Lance Stroll, Aston Martin

17. Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin

16. Nicholas Latifi, Williams

Bottas stops with “misfiring” right at the end of Q1. Ruined a lot of laps with the jam it caused at the final corner but not much he could do. And potentially out of Q2 #F1 #SaudiArabianGP

— Chris Medland (@ChrisMedlandF1) December 4, 2021

Q2

Perez set the first timed lap with a 1:28.861 but it was smashed by his Dutch teammate with a 1:27.953 (.908 seconds faster). However, the Mexican Red Bull driver rectified that discrepancy with another fast lap which put him second, 0.222 seconds slower than his teammate.

Sainz brought out the yellow flags as the Spaniard was briefly launched into the air and skidded across the run off, between turns 11 and 12. Fortunately, the #55 Ferrari just clipped the barrier with his rear wing but had to return to his respective garage to get his wing checked.

Ferrari’s Spaniard was soon sent out to set another fast lap, in an attempt to improve his provisional grid slot (P15). However, Sainz had another incident at the same set of corners but he managed to keep the car under control but couldn’t improve his position as the chequered flag fell to end Q2.

Eliminated

15. Carlos Sainz, Ferrari

14. George Russell, Williams

13. Fernando Alonso, Alpine

12. Kimi Raikkonen, Alfa Romeo

11. Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren

#Charles16 made it through #Q3.

The damage on #Carlos55’s rear wing was small but unfortunately in this conditions he wasn’t able to set a competitive time. #SaudiArabianGP pic.twitter.com/q0SQJpexrA

— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) December 4, 2021

Q3

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was the first driver to venture out onto the Jeddah Corniche Circuit as the green light came on to start Q3. The Monegasque was quickly followed by the Mercedes duo with Bottas out ahead of Hamilton.

Hamilton almost retired early from Q3 as the seven-time world champion blasted around turn nine but the rear of his W12 stepped out. Fortunately, the #44 Mercedes was able to use the run off to avoid the barrier. In his second hot lap, the defending champion set the fastest time with a 1:28.035 lap.

This was soon beaten by Verstappen with a blistering 1:27.653 lap (0.382 faster than Hamilton).

Driving with anger and precision in the tight nature of the Jeddah circuit, after his earlier mistake, the reigning champion secured provisional pole with a 1:27.511 lap.

Verstappen was on course to steal pole from Hamilton but he locked up his front left tyre and broke his rear suspension as he clabbered the barrier, on the exit of the final corner.

Top 10

10. Antonio Giovinazzi, Alfa Romeo

9. Esteban Ocon, Alpine

8. Yuki Tsunoda, Alpha Tauri

7. Lando Norris, McLaren

6. Pierre Gasly, Alpha Tauri

5. Sergio Perez, Red Bull

4. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

3. Max Verstappen, Red Bull

2. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes

1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

A dramatic ending to qualifying in Jeddah!

Max Verstappen hits the barriers on his final flying lap ?

Leaving him in P3 – with title rival Lewis Hamilton taking pole!#SaudiArabianGP ?? #F1 pic.twitter.com/1yFZfDdBQS

— Formula 1 (@F1) December 4, 2021

We hope you enjoyed the article ‘F1 Saudi Arabia GP Qualifying: Max Verstappen P3 after hitting barrier.’ With the podium now set, the F1 Saudi Arabia GP will be sure to deliver. What was your thoughts of qualifying? Let us know in the comments!

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