Oscar Piastri gave it everything in Jeddah, but Max Verstappen’s pace proved untouchable on the high-speed Saudi Arabian circuit.
Oscar Piastri lined up on the front row of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, just behind the ever-dominant Max Verstappen. The McLaren driver admitted there wasn’t much more he could’ve done to beat the Red Bull, especially on a track that clearly plays to their strengths.
“I’m pretty happy with that lap, honestly, there wasn’t a whole lot more to extract,” said Piastri after qualifying. “I spent the first part of the session chasing time, and by the second run, I think that was about as good as it was going to get.”
Verstappen, as always, was clinical. And Piastri knows that Red Bull tends to thrive on high-speed circuits like Jeddah: “Max put together a solid lap. It’s another quick circuit where they seem to be just that bit stronger. But he did a great job.”
Looking ahead to the race, Piastri remains optimistic. “We’ve got a lot to fight for. Our pace looks good, and the tires are softer than they were last year, that could play into our hands.”
The young Aussie also touched on the intense challenge of racing on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. “It’s a brutal track. Once you fall out of rhythm, it’s really tough to get it back. Miss one corner and you’re probably messing up five more after that.”
But even with the difficulty, there’s something electric about it. “It’s one of the toughest tracks on the calendar, but under the lights, on soft tires, with all that grip… it’s one of the best. So much adrenaline. I’m still shaking a bit just from the run. Tomorrow should be an incredible race.”
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Piastri Pushes to the Limit But Verstappen Stays King
Piastri Pushes to the Limit But Verstappen Stays King
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