Perez claims pole; Schumacher ‘physically fine’ after crash

Sergio Perez claimed pole place in a dramatic Saudi Arabian GP qualifying which noticed Lewis Hamilton eradicated early in sixteenth and two drivers closely crash out, with Mick Schumacher airlifted to hospital after a giant shunt.

Perez edged the Ferraris to seal an outstanding and sudden first pole place for Crimson Bull in his 219th Grand Prix, with the epic Q3 shootout finishing a Jeddah qualifying session full of serious moments.

Nicholas Latifi earlier crashed out in Q1 within the Williams earlier than a serious shock as Hamilton, F1’s most profitable driver in a beforehand dominant Mercedes, was knocked out within the first section for the primary time since 2017.

There have been extra purple flags in Q2 as Schumacher misplaced management of his Haas earlier than an enormous crash at Flip 12, which led to an hour delay to qualifying because the Haas automobile was eliminated and the Jeddah road monitor repaired.

Schumacher was airlifted to hospital however was mentioned to be “bodily superb” and was launched late on Saturday night time. He’ll, nevertheless, miss Sunday’s race.

Ten drivers went by to Q3, and never many would have predicted Perez as the favourite.

However simply as Charles Leclerc regarded set to move a Ferrari one-two on the grid for Sunday’s race, Perez pumped in one of many laps of his profession to beat the Monegasque by simply 0.025s.

Carlos Sainz was third forward of Max Verstappen, Perez’s Crimson Bull team-mate who was surprisingly off-color when it mattered most. Crimson Bull and Ferrari are more likely to go head-to-head for the win in F1’s quickest road race.

George Russell, managing to get far more out of the Mercedes than Hamilton, certified sixth behind the spectacular Esteban Ocon within the Alpine.

Saudi Arabian GP Qualifying Outcomes — high 10

1. Sergio Perez, Crimson Bull
2. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
3. Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
4. Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull
5. Esteban Ocon, Alpine
6. George Russell, Mercedes
7. Fernando Alonso, Alpine
8. Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo
9. Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri
10. Kevin Magnussen, Haas

Hamilton’s Q1 exit and scary crashes: Qualy drama in Saudi

Saudi Arabian GP qualifying came about following disaster talks between the drivers late into Friday night time after a missile assault on a close-by oil facility. It was lastly determined between F1, the FIA and the grid that they might proceed with the Jeddah occasion, with remaining follow and qualifying going down as deliberate on Saturday.

There was drama all through the shootout, and it began in Q1 with Latifi’s crash at Flip 13, with the Williams the primary to push the bounds of the unforgiving Corniche circuit. He was taken to the medical middle, however was unhurt.

That preceded one of many greatest shocks in current qualifying reminiscence with Hamilton eradicated in sixteenth.

It was not because of climate or unhealthy luck; Hamilton was down in that place on an absence of tempo alone and regardless of his greatest efforts and loads of flying laps on the softest tires, he was subjected to a humiliating exit when Lance Stroll improved.

It was his first Q1 elimination for the reason that 2017 Brazilian GP when he crashed, and his first with no mitigating components for the reason that 2009 British GP.

Hamilton sounded shocked when informed of the deficit to Russell, who was fourth in that section, and Sky F1’s Paul Di Resta mentioned: “That is not the Lewis Hamilton we all know.

“There should be one thing inside that automobile that is not proper.”

There was then one other crash, this time extra important, as Schumacher slammed sideways into the obstacles at Flip 12 throughout Q2.

Photos didn’t instantly present replays — resulting in fears over his well-being — though the German, son of F1 legend Michael, was mentioned to be aware earlier than making his method to the medical middle.

Haas said he was “bodily superb” however he was airlifted to hospital in a helicopter for additional precautionary checks. He was launched later however is not going to line up for Sunday’s race, and Haas is not going to name up a substitute.

Perez units up one other Crimson Bull vs Ferrari battle

Following an hour delay, Q2 concluded — with Lando Norris narrowly avoiding the top-10 shootout within the McLaren — earlier than Ferrari seemed to be romping away within the battle for pole in Q3.

Verstappen, who is nearly completely Crimson Bull’s lead driver on a Saturday, endured what he described as a “horrible” first lap whereas Leclerc and Sainz discovered type. However simply because it regarded like Ferrari had been going to proceed their good begin to F1 2022, Perez pumped in purple sectors on his method to snatching pole.

“I can do a 1,000 laps and I do not assume I can beat that lap, it was unbelievable,” mentioned the Mexican.

It is arrange for a cracking race with Crimson Bull and Ferrari preventing on the entrance and a mixed-up grid behind. Watch all of it on Sky Sports activities F1 at 6pm, with build-up from 4.30pm.