Verstappen battles Red Bull’s inconsistencies to secure Saudi Arabian Grand Prix pole

Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool

Max Verstappen showcased his undeniable talent yet again by clinching pole position for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, despite acknowledging the "hit and miss" nature of his Red Bull car's performance. The reigning champion's recent experiences on the track have been characterized by wild fluctuations, as evidenced by his results in the last three races.

After a victory at Suzuka two weeks ago from pole position, Verstappen faced significant challenges in Bahrain, where he could qualify no higher than seventh and finished the race in sixth place. His performance in Jeddah displayed a remarkable turnaround, as he edged out McLaren's Oscar Piastri by a mere 0.010 seconds to claim the top spot for Sunday's race.

"I felt immediately more confident when I headed into qualifying," Verstappen admitted. "We made some minor changes to the car [after final practice], but they were clearly big enough to feel, and I think that's a bit the story of our car: it can be really hit and miss."

Verstappen elaborated on the complex dynamics of handling the Red Bull machine. "When we get it right, I think it's competitive, of course. But, yeah, when we don't get it right, it's a lot more difficult."

The track in Jeddah, with its unique challenges, proved to be a significant factor in Verstappen's success this weekend. "Braking into Turn 22 is very bumpy, so you don't even see where you're going when you turn in. So it's very hard to get everything right. But, yeah, clearly, it was good enough. And, yeah, of course, in Q3, you risk everything a bit more."

Verstappen also highlighted the distinct differences between the tracks in Bahrain and Jeddah, which contributed to the contrasting results. "There are a few more high-speed corners. The tarmac is completely different, which has a big influence on the tyres as well."

He noted, "Naturally, when you have tracks where you need a lot of rotation mid-corner, and long-duration corners, which you have in Bahrain, that's a big problem for us. Here, it just seems to be a little bit more competitive. I'm not saying that it's solved, but at least it gave me an opportunity to push a bit better and deal with the limitations that we have a bit better."

As Verstappen prepares for Sunday's race, eyes will be keenly watching to see if he can maintain his current form and convert his pole position into a victory, despite the ongoing challenges with the Red Bull setup.

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