Lando Norris and McLaren entered the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend brimming with confidence. After dominating FP3 in scorching conditions (47°C), they knew things would tighten in the cooler temperatures of qualifying. Still, everything pointed to a strong pole challenge.
Norris was in supreme form, showing pace and precision that were sorely missing a week earlier in Bahrain. He consistently outpaced teammate Oscar Piastri and seemed completely at one with the car, brushing close to walls with pinpoint accuracy. What looked like a stressful session for others came across as a flowing dance for Norris.
A Smart Strategy for Early Runs
McLaren planned ahead. In FP3, Norris did multiple laps on a single tyre set, foreshadowing a Q1 strategy where he would do two hot laps with a cooldown in between. It paid off: even on aging tyres, Norris was over two-tenths faster than anyone on the first runs. He could afford to sit out the rest of Q1.
READ MORE: Tameka Yallop Suffers Hamstring Injury in Roar’s 2–0 A-League Women Loss to Victory
Verstappen, however, went out again and improved on used tyres, indicating track grip was improving as the evening cooled. The Red Bull threat was growing.
Q2 Mirrors Q1 — But the Tide Was Shifting
Norris again topped the first Q2 runs and chose to stay in the garage. Verstappen couldn’t improve on his second lap, while Piastri lagged just 0.15s behind Norris, not quite matching the Briton’s confidence through the opening corners.
Q3: From High Hopes to Heartbreak
With momentum on his side, Norris looked ready to clinch pole. But just as the final session began, disaster struck. Pushing hard through Turn 4, he missed the apex slightly, tried to correct, and was spat into the wall at Turn 5. No time on the board. Game over.
What could’ve been a career-defining pole turned into a devastating error. The pressure may have come more from Verstappen than from Piastri, given Norris had his teammate handled all weekend.
Did Sitting Out Cost Norris Pole?
In hindsight, skipping second runs in Q1 and Q2 might’ve hurt Norris. Verstappen had more time to adapt to the evolving grip levels. The confidence Norris showed all weekend had him riding the knife’s edge — but in Q3, it finally cut back.
As crews cleared the crash debris, track temperatures dropped further — perfect conditions for Verstappen and George Russell, whose Mercedes thrives in the cool.
Verstappen’s Tactical Double Run
Verstappen’s engineer Gianpiero Lambiase suggested a rare strategy: fuel the car for two Q3 runs on back-to-back laps. The first run, slightly compromised by fuel weight and worn tyres, still beat Piastri’s first flyer by 0.001s. Game on.
With time tight but possible, Verstappen took the challenge. He had a nearly unused set of softs plus one brand new set remaining.
Piastri and Russell Push, But Verstappen Strikes
On the final runs, Verstappen led the first sector, Russell the second, and Piastri the third — showcasing McLaren’s edge in rear tyre management. Verstappen’s tow from teammate Yuki Tsunoda and his sector one gain of 0.35s over his previous lap sealed it.
In the end, Verstappen claimed pole by just 0.01s over Piastri. Russell, only 0.1s behind, lamented a poor Turn 1 entry after a hurried warm-up.
Once Again, a McLaren Driver Misses the Mark
This wasn’t the first time McLaren’s faster driver failed to convert pace into pole. In Suzuka, Piastri was the quicker of the two but made a critical mistake, leaving the door open for Norris to step up — yet still not enough to deny Verstappen. This time, the roles were reversed.
Verstappen Surprised by Red Bull’s Night-Time Performance
Verstappen was surprised by the Red Bull’s transformation in cooler conditions. Big overnight setup changes and tweaks in FP3 brought the car alive when it mattered most.
“The car really came alive in the night,” Verstappen said. “We didn’t expect this. It shows how much the others struggle in the heat — McLaren excepted.”
Russell Adds Perspective on Tyre Performance
Russell explained that everyone except McLaren suffers more tyre overheating, especially on the soft compounds. Even on mediums, Friday’s running revealed high degradation.
“If Oscar gets into the lead, he’ll disappear,” Russell predicted. “Just like in Bahrain. But if he doesn’t, it could be a good race.”
What Now for Norris?
For Norris, the only way forward is to gamble. He’s likely to start on the hard tyres, run a long first stint, and pray for a safety car window after others have pitted but before he has.
It was all going to plan — until it wasn’t. A rare chance for pole gone begging, and another masterstroke from Verstappen.
