JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia Oracle Red Bull Racings Max Verstappen delivered a stunning final lap in Q3 to secure pole position for Sundays Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

The four-time world champion found incredible pace when he needed it the most to finish one-hundredth of a second ahead of title rival Oscar Piastri of McLaren.

Verstappens lap of 1 minute and 27.294 seconds edged Piastris 1 minute and 27.304-second blast around the Jeddah Circuit.

It is really nice but definitely unexpected to get pole today, Verstappen said. The team made some final adjustments going into qualifying which allowed me to be a bit more comfortable in the car and attack the corners. Our progression in qualifying was really nice: we tried to improve run by run and it felt good in the car and we made things a lot more comfortable.

Verstappen knows hell have his work cut out for him on Sunday.

Looking to tomorrow, it will be a bit more tricky as here you can pass if you have more pace, he said. There are a few more DRS zones, so it will be difficult to keep everyone behind but we will give it everything that we have.

Verstappens pole came on a day when point leader Lando Norris crashed his McLaren during the third qualifying session. He ended up 10th on the scoreboard.

Its been such a smooth, positive weekend so far, so were disappointed to have such a big setback but Ive got to take it on the chin, Norris said. I apologized to the team, to my mechanics and the engineers and try and go again tomorrow. The cars quick, the cars been good all weekend so have to think hard to overtake the cars tomorrow.

Meanwhile, George Russell was third for Mercedes, with Charles Leclerc fourth for Ferrari and Kimi Antonelli fifth in the second Mercedes.