Jeddah GP 2026 — qualifying decided everything

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

If Bahrain showed Red Bull’s pace, Jeddah showed McLaren’s. Norris took pole by 0.044s, the smallest margin since the 2019 British GP qualifying battle. Max settled for second on the grid and converted to second at the flag — a P2 that felt like a defeat given the season opener.

What changed

The Jeddah Corniche Circuit rewards aerodynamic efficiency above all else. McLaren’s MCL40 has clearly stepped forward in low-drag setup. They didn’t just match Red Bull on the straights — they were measurably quicker in the long flat-out sections through sector 2.

Jeddah on

Jeddah GP 2026 — qualifying decided everything

What changed