Discouraging for the competition, Max Verstappen once again made a show of strength this Friday early in the evening, during qualifying practice for the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia.
The Dutch Red Bull driver dominated the three qualifying rounds and, as in Bahrain during the first Grand Prix of the season, will start in pole position this Saturday in Jeddah ahead of Charles Leclerc (Ferrari, + 0''319), the first of the “others”.
Sergio Pérez (Red Bull, +0′’335) completes the podium.
Qualifications notably marked by the first appearance in Formula 1 of young Oliver Bearman (18 years old), surprise replacement chosen by Ferrari to compensate for the withdrawal of Carlos Sainz, who had surgery for appendicitis.
The young Briton, for his baptism of fire, will unfortunately not have passed Q2 but can have a smile, with an 11th position, only... 36 thousandths of a second behind the legend Lewis Hamilton, who will join Ferrari next season.
36 THOUSANDTHS TO LEAVE HAMILTON 😱
Bearman narrowly misses Q3!
💥#SaudiArabianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/yRdLXVtGJ8
— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) March 8, 2024
“It could have been better, this is not how I wanted to make my debut in F1,” reacted the young man after qualifying.
I didn't have much preparation, but I can still be happy.
I'm excited to start, it's a step in my career, a dream come true.
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Another constant compared to the first GP of the season: the failure of the Alpine of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, who once again did not survive Q1.
The two Frenchmen nevertheless did a little better than last week with a 17th and 18th position, just ahead of Sargeant (19th, Williams) and Zhou (20th, Kick Sauber).
🎙️ “We are still too far from Q2.”
Patience and a lot of work await the Alpine drivers after another elimination in Q1 ❌#SaudiArabianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/ljyxqjOHpx
— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) March 8, 2024
“We are where we expected,” Pierre Gasly told Canal+.
There is perhaps a little better to do, but we are still very far from Q2.
We are aware of it, everyone is trying to find solutions, we will have to do the best possible with the car we have and be patient.
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