Championship
leader
Verstappen
went
fastest
in
the
first
two
sectors
but
hit
the
barriers
on
the
last
corner
and
had
to
stop,
meaning
he
will
start
Sunday’s
race
from
third
behind
Hamilton
and
his
Mercedes
team-mate
Valtteri
Bottas.

The
Dutchman
will
hope
the
crash
did
not
result
in
any
damage
to
his
gearbox,
having
taken
a
new
one
ahead
of
the
grand
prix
in
Jeddah.
A
replacement
would
result
in
a
five-place
grid
penalty
that
could
have
huge
ramifications
on
his
title
challenge.

Asked
about
his
crash,
Verstappen
said:
“It’s
of
course
terrible.
It
was
a
good
qualifying.
I
knew
the
pace
was
there
and
it
showed
in
the
last
lap.

“I
don’t
really
understand
what
happened
but
I
locked
up
and
I
still
tried
to
keep
the
car
and
finish
the
lap
but
clipped
the
rear
and
had
to
stop.

“P3
today
is
a
bit
disappointing
knowing
what
lap
I
was
on,
but
it
shows
the
car
is
quick
and
let’s
see
what
we
can
do
in
the
race.

“I
don’t
know
[if
the
gearbox
was
damaged].
I
immediately
stopped
so
let’s
see.”

Hamilton
has
won
the
past
two
races
to
close
the
gap
to
Verstappen
in
the
drivers’ standings
to
eight
points
and
evaded
a
serious
punishment
for
impeding
Nikita
Mazepin
and
failing
to
comply
with
yellow
flags
during
FP3
earlier
on
Saturday.

The
seven-time
defending
champion
paid
tribute
to
the
efforts
of
Bottas
in
the
build-up
to
qualifying
and
expects
Verstappen’s
Red
Bull
to
be
a
significant
factor
on
Sunday.

“We
were
quick
through
practice
but
particularly
FP3
and
qualifying
were
just
lacking
pace,
struggling
with
the
tyres,
so
for
us
to
get
a
one-two
I’m
really
proud
of
Valtteri
and
the
men
and
women
in
our
team
who
have
been
working
so
hard.
It’s
a
great
result,”
said
Hamilton.

“This
was
the
goal.
We
worked
so
hard
through
simulation,
set-up.
Collaboration
has
been
epic
with
Valtteri,
he’s
the
best
team-mate
there
has
even
been
in
this
sport,
for
sure.
We’ve
worked
together
to
get
the
car
where
it
needs
to
be.

“Those
guys
[Red
Bull]
were
just
so
fast.
That
Bull
round
this
track
is
just
something
else,
but
given
where
we
are
and
what
we’ve
managed
to
pull
out
I’m
happy.

“We
always
get
closer
in
race
pace.
I
anticipate
there’ll
be
a
close
battle
on
Sunday,
but
Valtteri
and
I
will
be
on
it.”

Bottas
will
have
getting
the
win
in
the
back
of
his
mind
but
his
priority
will
be
helping
Mercedes
clinch
the
constructors’
championship
and
Hamilton
maximise
his
title
chances.

“Of
course
I
want
to
get
a
race
win,
but
first
things
first
we
need
to
concentrate
on
the
team
championship
and
Lewis
is
still
fighting
for
the
title,
I’m
not,”
said
Bottas.

“I’ll
do
my
best
with
whatever
I
can
and
at
the
same
time
try
to
enjoy
it.”