WATCH: Alonso & Ricciardo Go Through the Motions After Max Verstappen Rollercoaster in Saudi Arabia

You’d think that Formula 1 drivers like Daniel Ricciardo and especially Fernando Alonso have seen enough in their careers. That not much can surprise or leave them in ‘awe’ considering their experience. But the final flying lap of Max Verstappen left the two drivers absolutely astonished.

In their post-qualifying interviews, the Alpine driver and the McLaren driver were side-by-side. Presumably, the interviewer showed Alonso the footage of Verstappen’s lap as he tried to snatch away the pole position from his championship rival.

Alonso squints his eyes, shakes his head, and said, “That was close.” He also asked Ricciardo alongside him, “Danny, what do you think?”  

Ricciardo too seemed surprised as he acknowledged the effort and near perfection from his former teammate. But it was probably after watching Verstappen’s extremely close shave with the wall in Turn 2, much before his lap ending contact at turn 27 that got an incredible reaction out of Alonso.

“Still purple?!” 

Thats @alo_oficial and @danielricciardo reacting on the crash of @Max33Verstappen #SaudiArabianGP pic.twitter.com/R3IbvCHLKZ

— Alpine F1 updates (@startonpole) December 4, 2021

Yet regardless, Verstappen will start from P3 as the two Mercedes secured a front-row lockout for Sunday.

Max Verstappen had been pushing it to the limit throughout this weekend

It’s not as if the Red Bull driver was pushing it to the very edge after Hamilton got provisional pole.

Verstappen had been bravely and full fledgedly committing himself to this new track right from FP1. This is all the more impressive considering how almost all of the other 19 drivers took their time to settle in the track while the Dutchman started testing how far he can push it from the get go.

And much to his disappointment, the test results came back in a crucial time, in a very cruel and agonising fashion. When Verstappen hit the wall in the last seconds of Q3, yes, he was on probably the lap of the season, but he was also one corner away from making it stick.

Formula One F1- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix – Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – December 4, 2021 The car of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen stranded on the track following a crash during qualifying REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

Fortunately or unfortunately or both, that’s what the margin of error in F1 is. It’s one corner or one second that stands between glory and bust.

And in this season, this one corner could prove monumental for Verstappen, as the distance between his first title and a second-place finish seems to get narrower.

Also Read: Is Max Verstappen Getting a Grid Penalty After His Heartbreaking F1 Crash at Jeddah F1 Qualifying?

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