Max Verstappen secured pole position for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in a dramatic qualifying session marked by Lando Norris's early crash in Q3.

Norris lost control at Turn 4 while riding the curb, crashing his McLaren and relegating him to 10th position without setting a time. The session was briefly suspended to clear the damaged MCL39.

Verstappen's unique strategy of completing two qualifying laps with a pit stop for fresh tires paid off. He clinched pole by just 0.01s ahead of Oscar Piastri, with George Russell securing third place only 0.113s behind.

Charles Leclerc finished fourth, followed by Andrea Kimi Antonelli in fifth and Carlos Sainz in sixth. Lewis Hamilton, Yuki Tsunoda, and Pierre Gasly rounded out the top nine.

This is the moment that cost Lando Norris a chance at pole position tonight 😮🔽#F1 #SaudiArabianGP pic.twitter.com/QvzYSUYrha

Verstappen expressed satisfaction with his performance, noting the car's improved handling during the night session after making final adjustments. Piastri acknowledged he extracted maximum performance from his car, while Russell showed surprise at his competitive showing.

Notable eliminations included Alex Albon in 11th, Fernando Alonso in 13th, and Lance Stroll in 16th. Gabriel Bortoleto will start last after spinning on his final lap in Q1.

The stage is set for an exciting race, with Verstappen acknowledging the challenge of maintaining his position against strong competition during tomorrow's grand prix.

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