Mexican Sergio Perez has taken pole position for the Saudi Arabian GP. Perez had to save the honor for Red Bull after Max Verstappen couldn’t get further than fifteenth due to a technical problem.
One perfect, physics-bending chain of 27 corners is all that separates us and our second polesitter of 2023…#SaudiArabianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/wkeRbMIjZ1
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 18, 2023
After three fastest times in as many practice sessions, Max Verstappen was the big favorite in Jeddah to take pole position for the Saudi Arabian GP. It was also looking forward to what Aston Martin, Ferrari and Mercedes could achieve. Before the start of qualifying it was already certain that Charles Leclerc would not be on pole, after all, the Monegask received a grid penalty for changing a part on his Ferrari engine.
Lando bonks the wall at the final corner, and heads back to the pits #SaudiArabianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/VplSXBpTb3
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 18, 2023
During the first part of qualifying we saw a remarkable number of mistakes by the drivers. Lando Norris made the mistake with the biggest consequences because his McLaren F1 car hit the wall. Norris returned to the pits but his qualifying was immediately over. Verstappen and Perez finished Q1 at the top, Red Bull clearly lived up to its role of favourite.
VER : “I have a problem… engine, engine problem”#SaudiArabianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/R8OQwhjdjE
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 18, 2023
In Q2, however, fate struck Max Verstappen. Verstappen suddenly drove very slowly on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit and he announced on the on-board radio that there was an engine problem. Verstappen managed to get to the pit lane but then got out of the car. So no pole position for Max Verstappen.
Max is out of the car and will take no further part in qualifying #SaudiArabianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/OZbjkCPvjX
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 18, 2023
Sergio Perez then set the fastest time in Q2, followed by Fernando Alonso in the Aston Martin at barely a tenth. The harbinger of an intense battle between the two men for pole in Q3?
During the first fast runs in Q3, Sergio Perez claimed a provisional pole position in the Red Bull. The Mexican was almost half a second faster than Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari. George Russell and Fernando Alonso followed by more than six-tenths.
Sparkling towards provisional pole
Checo is half a second clear as we enter the final few minutes of qualifying#SaudiArabianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/x7bQ0yJJng
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 18, 2023
In the end it was also Sergio Perez who took pole position after the second fast run, so Red Bull took pole position despite the problems for Max Verstappen. Charles Leclerc was second fastest, but the Monegask will start the race in twelfth place due to a grid penalty of ten places.