Max Verstappen storms to Saudi Grand Prix pole after Bahrain woes, as Lando Norris crashes out. Can anyone stop the Dutchman’s title charge? Full qualifying breakdown.

With that same scenario playing out in the days ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix — the McLaren duo again trading times atop the leaderboard while Verstappen sounded the alarm about the RB21 being “too slow” — many wondered if the Red Bull driver would still find a way to take pole position in the desert.

Max Verstappen’s nightmare Bahrain Grand Prix was encapsulated by his increasingly frustrated team radio messages during the race, with the champion unleashing a furious tirade. Red Bull looked off the pace all weekend, with Verstappen only managing the seventh fastest time in qualifying and was behind the Alpine of Pierre Gasly.