Max Verstappen crashed out of Q2 after suffering driveshaft failure at Red Bull; Watch the Saudi Arabian GP live on Sunday from 3:30pm on Sky Sports F1
By Sam Johnston in Jeddah
Sergio Pérez took pole position at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after his Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen crashed out of qualifying early following a mechanical failure.
Verstappen had been a heavy favorite for pole position after comfortably passing three practice sessions on Formula 1’s fastest street circuit, but a driveshaft failure saw him return to the Red Bull garage midway through the race. Q2 and immediately get out of the car, leaving it to start. Sunday’s race at 15th.
The departure of the reigning world champion created a tighter-than-expected contest to take top spot, but Perez kept his composure to seal pole position in Jeddah for the second consecutive season.
Charles Leclerc was second for Ferrari but faces a 10-place grid penalty, meaning Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso will join Perez on the front row.
George Russell provided a boost for Mercedes by taking fourth ahead of Carlos Sainz’s other Ferrari, but Lewis Hamilton was only able to manage eighth as he kept off his teammate’s pace.
More to follow…
Formula 1 street racing is back! Watch the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix live on Sky Sports F1 this weekend. Sunday’s race starts at 5:00 p.m., with buildup starting at 3:30 p.m. Get Sky Sports
