Formula 1: Verstappen surprisingly secures the poles

Max Verstappen couldn’t believe it himself. “My God, boys, just wonderful,” he sparked his crew after the galarunde on the Dschidda Corniche Circuit. As the start of the three stress weeks of Formula 1 in Japan, the four-time world champion raced to the surprise of everyone-including his-to starting place one at the Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia.

“I definitely didn’t expect the pole here,” emphasized Verstappen. “The car is brought to life overnight.” His 42nd Pole was a real masterpiece with which he also fueled his World Cup hopes. He has eight points behind on World Cup leader Lando Norris.

And the Briton once again showed nerves. In the decisive section of the co-excretion, Norris demolished his car-no for a long time, only starting place ten this Sunday (7 p.m. CEST/Sky). In addition to Verstappen, Norris’ UltraCool teammate Oscar Piatri will also stand for this. The 24 -year -old Australian, winner last Sunday in Bahrain, is only three points behind Norris in the classification.

Breaking series two on the super -fast course form George Russell in the Mercedes and Charles Leclerc in Ferrari. Nico Hülkenberg did not get 18 in the clean.

Actually there were only two questions before the co-excretion. Who will get the poles of the two McLaren? And how are the pursuers distribute behind the McLaren duo? There was no doubt about the superiority of Norris and Piatri. They had not given any reason for that. A bluff, as some people suspected immediately.

Norris had turned the fastest round just before Piatri the day before and a few hours before the qualification, the 25 -year -old Brit was in top shape. Nothing more to see and feel from the weaknesses in the desert of Sakhir with their own mistakes.

There Norris only came in sixth place in the qualification, Piatri had brought the pole, won the race the next day and increased the internal pressure on Norris.

Verstappen had only operated damage limitation in Sakhir. Only massive work on the RB20 of Verstappen in Saudi Arabia then brought significant improvements. And lo and behold: Verstappen already finished the first period in first place – in front of Norris and Piatri.

Already in Suzuka at the start of the so-called triple header-three Grand Prix on three consecutive weekends-Verstappen had won the pole with a miracle round and ultimately also won the Grand Prix of Japan. Would he actually repeat this?

Verstappen was also more than just kept in the second section-this time he stayed 48 thousandths of the world behind Norris. The top ten remained twelve minutes.

Piatri presented, who had already fetched the poles in China and Bahrain, drove strong – and was then slowed down by yellow and then red flags. His teammates had caught it. Norris drove over the edges, lost control of the McLaren and crashed into the route wall on the narrow course.

It was exactly the pictures that the Brit not wanted to produce. “I’m okay,” he reported and murmured an “idiot” over himself. This mistake should make a lot, whose open handling of his self -doubt with his self -doubt this week and also by Sebastian Vettel. He threatens to lose the World Cup lead on Sunday (7 p.m. CEST/Sky), nor a mistake must not afford Norris. Because when it matters, defending champion Verstappen is on the spot.