Christopher Fillocque / Photo credits: FREDERIC LE FLOC H / Frédéric Le Floc’h / DPPI via AFP
The boss is Max Verstappen. The three-time world champion demonstrated it again on Friday during the qualifying session, by taking the 34th pole position of his career, the first on the Jeddah circuit, in Saudi Arabia.
Red Bull dominates in Saudi Arabia again?
With his Ferrari, Charles Leclerc, who is the main threat, will start 2nd in front of the Mexican Sergio Pérez. Fernando Alonso, at the wheel of his Aston Martin, set the fifth fastest time ahead of the McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. Georges Russell, Lewis Hamilton, Yuki Tsunoda and Lance Stroll complete the Top 10.
On the other hand, for Alpine, things are not better. The French single-seaters are once again very far from the teams in front. Esteban Ocon will start from 17th place, Pierre Gasly from 18th. Launched into a difficult start to the season, Pierre Gasly asks for patience at the microphone of Canal +: “We are all very aware of the situation we are in. Nobody is satisfied to see us this far away. We are trying to find solutions. the solution. After Formula 1, it takes a little time. We’ll have to be patient for a few weeks, and in the meantime, try to learn as much as possible about this car and try to get the best out of it.”
A Saudi Arabian Grand Prix which could once again resemble domination by the two Red Bull drivers. Unless Ferrari manages to come and tickle the Austrian team. The Scuderia which will have to do without its Spanish driver, Carlos Sainz, who suffers from appendicitis and who will have an operation. He will be replaced at short notice by the very young Oliver Bearman who plays in Formula 2 and author of a good 11th time for a first in Formula 1.
Note that the start of this Grand Prix is this Saturday evening, at 6 p.m., and exceptionally unencrypted on Canal +.