Defending champion Max Verstappen remains unstoppable in Formula 1 and has also secured the best starting position for the Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia. The Red Bull driver clearly relegated Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc to second place with a lead of 0.319 seconds during qualifying in Jeddah on Friday (March 8, 2024).
Last year’s winner Sergio Pérez came third in the second Red Bull. Nico Hülkenberg from the Rhine had to retire due to a technical defect and had to settle for 15th place in the Haas racing car.
For Verstappen it is the first pole position on the ultra-fast street circuit. After his dominant opening victory a week ago in Bahrain, the three-time world champion from the Netherlands is also the clear favorite for the second race of the season. In consideration of the beginning of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan, the race will be run on Saturday (from 6 p.m. in the live ticker at the sports show).
Marko apparently about to leave Red Bull
Verstappen’s success in qualifying was overshadowed by the power struggle at Red Bull. According to a report by ORF, long-time motorsport consultant Helmut Marko is about to leave the world champion racing team as a result of the endless confusion surrounding team boss Christian Horner. “Helmut has to stay, that’s very important for me too,” said Max Verstappen, and it was now clear that this was also about the future of the best driver with the best team in Formula 1.
“My loyalty to him is very great, I have always communicated that to everyone in the team right up to the top,” said Verstappen: “He is an important part of my decision-making in the future too.” If such an “important pillar” were to disappear, “then that wouldn’t be good for my situation either.” Marko, the world champion’s sponsor, announced a conversation with Red Bull managing director Oliver Mintzlaff for Saturday. It’s “mutual” anyway, says Marko, “everything has to be right so that I want to continue working there.”
18-year-old Oliver Bearmann represents sick Sainz
Oliver Bearman, who is only 18 years old, will celebrate his unexpected premiere in Jeddah. The Brit represents Carlos Sainz in the Ferrari because the Spaniard had to undergo a short-term operation due to an inflamed appendix. Sainz had complained of feeling unwell shortly after his arrival in Saudi Arabia, but still completed the training rounds on Thursday. On Friday he had to go to the hospital. According to Ferrari, he survived the operation well.
Bearman, who usually competes in the Formula 2 junior series, showed no major teething problems. In qualifying he finished eleventh.
However, the day was bitter for the Chinese Zhou Guanyu. Because he badly damaged his Sauber racing car in an accident during training and the repairs took a little too long, he no longer managed a valid lap in qualifying and came last.