The seven-time British world champion set the fastest qualifying time in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, ahead of Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas and Dutch rival Max Verstappen.
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The roaring 103rd pole position for Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)! The British driver set the fastest time in the qualifying session (1’27 “511) for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the penultimate decisive round in this Formula 1 season. He will start on Sunday (6.30 p.m.) in front of his teammate Valtteri Bottas in the front line.
His rival in the drivers’ standings, the Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull), will start in third after a mistake in the dying seconds – and with pole position within his grasp. The French Pierre Gasly (Alpha Tauri) and Esteban Ocon (Alpine) will start, them, 6th and 9th.
Lewis Hamilton clinches his fifth pole of 2021!
Max Verstappen hits the wall on his final flying lap, and Valtteri Bottas takes P2!#SaudiArabianGP # F1 pic.twitter.com/BsYFaMRBU5
– Formula 1 (@ F1) December 4, 2021
The rivalry between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen reached a new milestone this Saturday. Surrendering blow for blow, setting in turn the best times, the two men delivered a formidable spectacle on the night track of Jeddah. Everything changed in the dying seconds of the session, when the Dutchman, back to the wall, threw his last banderilla.
With maximum risk taking, with the circuit walls touching his ear at over 250 km / h, Verstappen was ahead of the seven-time world champion after the first two sectors. All that remained was to keep up the pace in the last corner to regain a pole position which was outstretched to him, after having dominated the third free practice session on Friday. But it is precisely this last turn that will be fatal for him, with a too wide exit from a curve resulting in the end of his dream of starting on the front row on Sunday.
With eight points less in the drivers’ standings and a fast circuit making the starting grid position crucial, Hamilton has the opportunity to catch up with his rival by eight points. Before an explosive final round next week in Abu Dhabi?