OFFICIAL GRID: A Red Bull-Ferrari front row in Jeddah as Bearman debuts from P11

JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA - MARCH 19: Fernando Alonso of Spain driving the (14) Aston Martin AMR23 Mercedes and Sergio Perez of Mexico driving the (11) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB19 lead the field into turn one at the start during the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on March 19, 2023 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

Max Verstappen starts from pole for the first time in Saudi Arabia, with Red Bull team mate Sergio Perez immediately behind. Splitting them is the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc – and Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso could also feature in the Turn 1 lead battle from P4 on the grid.

REPORT: Verstappen takes pole position for Saudi Arabian Grand Prix as he heads Leclerc and Perez

Oscar Piastri will be seeking a strong race result after out-qualifying team mate Lando Norris, the McLaren duo lining up fifth and sixth, ahead of the two Mercedes cars of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton. Yuki Tsunoda, with a star showing in the RB, and the second Aston Martin of Lance Stroll complete the top 10.

After narrowly missing the Q3 cut, Ferrari sub Oliver Bearman – standing in for the ill Carlos Sainz – starts his maiden Grand Prix from a more-than-respectable 11th place, with Alex Albon just behind in 12th after a superb qualifying for Williams.

And at the rear of the order, it will be another long afternoon for Zhou Guanyu. The Chinese driver starts last for Kick Sauber after failing to set a lap time in qualifying following his heavy crash in FP3.

Starting Grid

FORMULA 1 STC SAUDI ARABIAN GRAND PRIX 2024

Pos.	Driver	Time
1	Max VerstappenVER	1:27.472
2	Charles LeclercLEC	1:27.791
3	Sergio PerezPER	1:27.807
4	Fernando AlonsoALO	1:27.846
5	Oscar PiastriPIA	1:28.089
6	Lando NorrisNOR	1:28.132
7	George RussellRUS	1:28.316
8	Lewis HamiltonHAM	1:28.460
9	Yuki TsunodaTSU	1:28.547
10	Lance StrollSTR	1:28.572