Max Verstappen starts on pole for F1's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix alongside Oscar Piastri

Max Verstappen starts on pole for F1’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix alongside Oscar Piastri

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Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands, pole position, left, cheers with McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia, second fastest time, after the qualifying session ahead of the Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

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Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands, center, pole position, is flanked by McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia, left, second fastest time and Mercedes driver George Russell of Britain, third fastest time after the qualifying session ahead of the Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

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McLaren driver Lando Norris’ car is carried out of the track after crashing during the qualifying session ahead of the Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

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Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands thumbs up after setting the pole position in the qualifying session ahead of the Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

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Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car during the qualifying session ahead of the Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

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A mechanic works on the Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso’s car during the qualifying session ahead of the Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (Thaier Al-Sudani/Pool Via AP)

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Red Bull driver Yuki Tsunoda of Japan steers his car during the third free practice ahead of the Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, April 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

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JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Max Verstappen is set to start on pole position for Sunday’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix alongside McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, as they both bid to take the Formula 1 standings lead from Lando Norris.

Four-time champion Verstappen set a blistering time in qualifying Saturday to take pole for the second time in three races, while Norris qualified only 10th for McLaren after crashing into the wall.

Verstappen is aiming to repeat his success in Japan two races ago, when he started on pole and held off the McLarens, but he’s pessimistic that his Red Bull has the pace over a full race distance to take the win in hotter conditions in Saudi Arabia.

It’s a dramatic turnaround from Verstappen’s struggles last week at the Bahrain Grand Prix, when his Red Bull car was well off the pace.

George Russell, who will start from third for Mercedes, said the race could be decided at the first corner.

If Piastri gets ahead at the start, he could cruise to the sort of dominant win he had in Bahrain last week, Russell predicted, adding that he expects a much tighter contest if Piastri has a longer battle to get past Verstappen.

Norris says he’s targeting a finish in the top five, which would limit the damage to his title chances.

The GP starts at 1900 GMT (1 p.m. ET).

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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing