Saudi GP qualifying: Sergio Perez requires pole soon after Red Bull group-mate Max Verstappen shock exit from K2 | F1 News

Max Verstappen shock K2 exit soon after suffering driveshaft failure at Red Bull Watch the Saudi Arabian GP reside on Sunday from 15:30 on Sky Sports F1

By Sam Johnston in Jeddah

18:31 UK Saturday 18 March 2023

Sergio Perez took pole position at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix soon after Red Bull group-mate Max Verstappen produced a shock exit from qualifying following a mechanical failure.

Verstappen was heavy favourite to take the pole soon after comfortably topping all 3 practice sessions at Formula 1’s quickest street circuit, but a driveshaft failure sent him back to the Red Bull garage midway by means of K2 and quickly exited the auto, leaving him to start off. Sunday race at three p.m.

The reigning planet champion’s exit set up a closer-than-anticipated battle for top rated spot, but Perez kept his composure to claim pole position in Jeddah for the second consecutive season.

Charles Leclerc was second for Ferrari but faces a ten-spot grid penalty, which means Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso will join Perez on the front row.

George Russell gave Mercedes a increase by finishing fourth ahead of Ferrari’s second-placed Carlos Sainz, but Lewis Hamilton could only handle eighth soon after falling off the pace of his group-mate.

Red Bull’s Sergio Perez secured pole position for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

Lance Stroll backed up Alonso’s fantastic outcome by taking sixth for Aston Martin, when Alpine place in an enhanced overall performance to take Esteban Ocon seventh and group-mate Pierre Gasly 10th.

McLaren’s Lando Norris crashed out of K1 soon after hitting the wall on the flying lap, but rookie group-mate Oscar Piastre completed a pretty impressive ninth as he showed indicators of the superstar prospective that lots of in the paddock think he possesses.

A lot more to come…

The outcome of the qualification for the Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia
1) Sergio Perez, Red Bull
two) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari*
three) Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
four) George Russell, Mercedes
five) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
six) Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
7) Esteban Ocon, Alpine
eight) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
9) Oskar Piastri, McLaren
ten) Pierre Gasly, Alpin

Formula 1 street racing is back! Watch the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix reside on Sky Sports F1 this weekend. The Sunday race begins at five:00 p.m. and continues from three:30 p.m. Get Ski Sports