Abandon for Max Verstappen in the qualifying session of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in F1
Max Verstappen experienced a gearbox issue right in the middle of his lap during the second part of qualifying. The Red Bull driver has to retire, therefore he is classified 15th, before potential penalties.
Max Verstappen was the favorite for this second qualifying session of the 2023 Formula 1 season. However, the two-time world champion driver will not secure the pole position in Jeddah, just like last year.
While he is in the second part of qualifying, qualifying in the top 15, the Red Bull driver attempts a quick lap and hears a broken gears noise, disrupting his qualification. Result: a mess of gears in the gearbox that needs to be replaced.
The Red Bull team will indeed try to replace the gearbox during Q2, but it will be in vain for the championship leader after his first victory of the season two weeks ago in Bahrain.
The Dutch driver had already failed to secure the pole position two years ago here, crashing into the wall in the penultimate turn of his qualifying session. It was his teammate who had then clinched the pole position.
Max Verstappen had already received a new gearbox earlier in the day. He said he was not very confident about winning the race on Sunday, starting from far back, even though he will try. « It’s obviously not what we wish for, to have a propulsion failure. I can move up a bit, I don’t know about winning, but I won’t give up and we’ll see. »
Note that Charles Leclerc, penalized to start 10 places back on the grid, could find himself behind Verstappen at the start of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix tomorrow, Sunday, if the Ferrari finishes worse than 4th in the qualifying.
Qualification results
Perez claims pole position ahead of Leclerc (penalized) and Alonso.
