Base sizes for finite linear groups with solvable stabilisers

Let G be a transitive permutation group on a finite set with solvable point stabiliser. In 2010, Vdovin conjectured that the base size of G is at most 5. Burness proved this conjecture in the case of primitive G. The problem was reduced by Vdovin in 2012 to the case when G is an almost simple group. Now the problem is further reduced to groups of Lie type through work of Baykalov and Burness. In this paper, we prove the strong form of the conjecture for all almost simple groups with socle isomorphic to PSLₙ (q). In the upcoming second paper, the analysis is extended to the unitary and symplectic groups. The final third paper on orthogonal groups is in preparation. Together, these three paper will complete the proof of Vdovin's conjecture for all almost simple classical groups.