Max will lead the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix starting grid

After securing his first-ever pole in Jeddah, Max Verstappen will lead the Formula 1 race to the green flag in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix of 2024. Verstappen ramped it up in qualifying, taking the lead from Ferrari's Charles Leclerc by 0.319 seconds in what appeared to be a close qualifying session. Teammates Sergio Perez and Fernando Alonso trailed the Monegasque by less than a tenth of a second.

Oliver Bearman, making his Grand Prix debut for Ferrari, is starting from 11th position on the grid, behind Lewis Hamilton by just 0.036 seconds. Bearman's success, in spite of the last-minute call-up, adds an interesting element to the race dynamics. The fact that Sergio Perez, the winner from the previous year, is starting from position three heightens the expectation of a close battle among the top teams.