Pole position qualifier Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB20 stops in parc ferme during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on March 08, 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia — After Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso topped the timing charts in both opening practices, teams turned their attention to the final practice and qualifying rounds to set the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix grid. Teams were looking forward to combining everything they learned to take some last-minute notes and prepare for the best possible position for the Grand Prix.
Looking towards regulation changes in 2026 focusing on sustainability, the German manufacturer was set to join Formula 1, joining forces with Sauber. However, rumors of them backing out before the Bahrain Grand Prix started to cast a little doubt on their commitment. But all of that was put to rest as Audi announced a complete and total commitment to F1, including a 100% takeover of the Sauber team, affirming their position on the F1 grid for the future.
More news dropped before the final practice, as Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz was announced to be sitting out the remainder of the weekend, battling appendicitis. Ferrari’s reserve driver, Oliver Bearman, will take Sainz’s place. The 18-year-old British rookie will be partaking in his first-ever Grand Prix. However, he is no stranger to F1 machinery after participating in mandated rookie free practice sessions that started at the Mexican Grand Prix in 2023.
Teams were ready to gather as much data as possible to finalize their set-ups ahead of qualifying and the Grand Prix as the final practice. While there were some close moments in the prior sessions, the final practice session was halted for 10 minutes as Kick Sauber F1 driver Zhou Guanyu lost control going into Turn 7, heavily damaging his car. His team now had a rush to get his car fixed in time to qualify in a handful of hours.
Third placed qualifier Sergio Perez of Mexico driving the (11) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB20 as Pole position qualifier Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB20 stops in parc ferme in the Pitlane during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on March 08, 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
Just like the first practice session, Verstappen’s Red Bull held the pace over the field. Sergio Perez’s other Red Bull sandwiched Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari to finish in the Top three. George Russell continued his intriguing pace, bringing in the fourth fastest time, and Lando Norris closed out the Top five in his McLaren. Bearman grabbed a respectable 10th-quickest time by the time practice was over. Now, teams have turned their attention to the all-important qualifying rounds to set the grid for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
As soon as the pit lights went out, Bearman in his Ferrari got everyone’s attention as he put together his first competitive timed laps and made his way comfortably into the second round. But Verstappen brought his Red Bull to his ever-familiar benchmark pace, giving everyone something to try to reach. A second-timed lap put him ahead of Leclerc and the Aston Martin of Lance Stroll, who needed a last-minute run to make his way into the second round.
Exiting out of the first round came a familiar set of names from the previous week. The Alpine cars of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly joined the Williams of Logan Sargeant and the Kick Sauber cars of Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, the latter who narrowly missed being able to set a time as his team attempted to repair his damaged car.
The second round saw a short stoppage as the Haas duo of Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg started the flood of cars on track. While the Haas cars were trying to work with the two to get a faster time, Hulkenberg’s car started to fail, and he coasted to a stop, leading to a red flag. Verstappen was excelling, as he had been for the previous three years, and he continued to set the benchmark on the field. He comfortably made his way into the final round and a chance at his first pole at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB20 on track during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on March 08, 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Bearman’s spirited qualifying came to an end, as he came just 0.036s from being able to make it into the final round, an incredible showing for the young Ferrari driver. He was joined by the other Williams of Alex Albon, the Visa Cash App RB of Daniel Riccario, and the Haas pair of Magnussen and Hulkenberg not making it into the final round.
The final round of qualifying started with both Red Bull drivers Verstappen and Perez holding strong with a potential front row lockout while the Aston Martin made his way right behind them. As the final rounds started, things started to solidify more. Mercedes looked to improve on their time, but as Russell and Lewis Hamilton were making their second runs, neither of them were making any headway and settled for seventh and eighth, respectively. The McLarens wound their way into the row ahead of the Mercedes duo as both Oscar Piastri and Norris could only settle for fifth and sixth.
Meanwhile, up front, it was looking to be a battle for who would start alongside Verstappen between Perez, Leclerc, and Alonso. Leclerc brought his Ferrari across the line just barely faster than Perez in his second lap, but Alonso could not improve enough and had to settle for fourth. Meanwhile, the Visa Cash App RB of Yuki Tsunoda and the other Aston Martin of Stroll rounded out the Top 10 for the grid on Sunday.
Verstappen solidified his 34th career pole position and his first in Jeddah as he looks to become the first repeat winner at the fastest street circuit on the schedule. Teams now turn their attention to their strategies and final setups before the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Currently, it looks to be another Grand Prix in which the field has to look to chase the unstoppable force of Verstappen and Red Bull Racing.
