WATCH: Ride onboard with Hamilton as he snatches the first-ever Saudi Arabian Grand Prix pole

Lewis Hamilton took his fifth pole position of the season as rival Max Verstappen crashed at the end of his flying lap in a scintillating qualifying session at Jeddah.

Mercedes' defending champion set a benchmark of 1m27.511s that was set to be eclipsed by Verstappen, before the Red Bull driver hit the barriers exiting the final corner on a blistering lap.

READ MORE: ‘Max would have been ahead’ says Hamilton, as title rival’s qualifying crash hands him crucial Jeddah pole

Therefore it was Hamilton who took pole over team mate Valtteri Bottas, while Verstappen settled for third on the grid for Sunday's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. That sets up what is set to be a nailbiting battle as the Dutchman aims to hold on to his eight-point drivers' championship lead – while Hamilton aims to claw back the deficit and deny his rival a maiden title.

Watch Hamilton's pole-setting lap in the video player above.