Saudi Arabia Grand Prix Qualifying - LIVE!
Max Verstappen crashed into the wall in the final turn of his final run on Formula One’s newest circuit, handing the front row for the inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix to Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes.
Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, jumped to the top of the qualifying board with about 80 seconds remaining in Saturday’s session. Valtteri Bottas, his Mercedes teammate, then moved to second.
It gave the current championship leader one final lap around the high-speed course to try to claim pole.
The Dutchman went wide in the second turn and nearly brushed the wall, but held it together and was well on course to snatch pole with a stunning lap. But he locked up his front wheel on the final corner and hit the wall, bringing an end to the session and his hopes of pole.
He will start third, with Mercedes landing a potentially crucial blow in both title races by taking the front-row.
