Max starts from P4 in Jeddah: 'A lot to fight for tomorrow'

Published on 26 March 2022 by Kees-Jan Koster

Sergio Perez took the first pole position of his Formula 1 career after a tumultuous qualifying in Jeddah. He was quicker than both Ferraris and Max Verstappen, who qualified fourth. After a crash of Nicholas Latifi in Q1 followed a major crash of Mick Schumacher in Q2. Fortunately, the last part of qualifying runs without incidents.

“I had no grip anymore in Q3”, says Max after qualifying. “I had no idea what happened to my first set of tyres, it was awful. I was sliding everywhere. The second set was a little bit better, but again I did not have a good feeling. I could not push in the faster corners, I somehow did not have the grip and the balance. When you do not have the confidence, then you cannot attach the corners. That is what basically happened to me.”

However, Max sees good opportunities for the race on Sunday. The Oracle Red Bull Racing driver continues: “My qualifying was not great, but we know the car is quick: Checo took pole. He did very well, I am happy for him. I hope we have a good balance for the race. A lot to fight for tomorrow.”

In the first qualifying part eleven drivers have set a time when the red flag comes out after Nicholas Latifi crashes in turn thirteen and ends sideways in the barriers. In the final eleven minutes it is busy on track and when the clock ends on zero, Lewis Hamilton, Alex Albon, Nico Hulkenberg, Nichholas Latifi and Yuki Tsunoda are the first to drop out of qualifying. Where George Russel is in P4, his British teammate cannot get his Mercedes fast enough round the circuit. Verstappen goes through in second position.

With five minutes to go in Q2 it goes very wrong with Mick Schumacher, who has a heavy crash in turn eleven with his Haas, breaking the car in two. The German is brought to hospital as a precaution, while the debris is cleared from the track. When the lights go green again and the final minutes have passed, are Lando Norris, Daniel Ricciardo, Zhou Guanyu, Mick Schumacher and Lance Stroll out. This time Max goes through in P4.

The decisive third session with the last ten drivers runs without incidents. Both Ferraris are on top after the first run, with Carlos Sainz (1:28.402) and Charles Leclerc. Sergio Perez follows in fifteen hundredths, while Max cannot find the grip and ends eight tenths (1:29.239) behind in sixth position. In the second run Leclerc and both Red Bulls improve, with the surprise that Sergio Perez takes his first pole (1:28.200). With Leclerc 25 thousendths behind and Sainz in two tenths, fourth position is for Verstappen (1:28.461).

Contest GP Saudi Arabia: win a by Max signed World Champion #1 cap!

Results qualifying Saudi Arabia: