Perez takes Saudi GP pole, Verstappen to start 15th after engine issue
Red Bull's Sergio Perez won the pole for Sunday's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after posting the fastest time in Saturday's qualifying session in Jeddah.
Teammate Max Verstappen was forced to bow out in Q2 due to an engine issue and will start in 15th.
ENGINE ISSUE FOR VERSTAPPEN!
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) March 18, 2023
There appears to be a big issue on the defending World Champion's car as he will try to limp back to the pits to see if the team can fix it.
He will start around 15th if he can't get going again.#F1 #SaudiArabianGP pic.twitter.com/3wI9lLDrKR
Verstappen will try to become only the second driver in Formula 1 history, and first since Fernando Alonso at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, to win a race when starting in 15th place.
| Position | Driver | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull | 1:28.265 |
| 2 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +0.155 |
| 3 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | +0.465 |
| 4 | George Russell | Mercedes | +0.592 |
| 5 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | +0.666 |
| 6 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | +0.680 |
| 7 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine | +0.813 |
| 8 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | +0.958 |
| 9 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | +0.978 |
| 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | +1.092 |
| 11 | Nico Hulkenberg | Haas | Q2 |
| 12 | Zhou Guanyu | Alfa Romeo | Q2 |
| 13 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas | Q2 |
| 14 | Valtteri Bottas | Alfa Romeo | Q2 |
| 15 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | Q2 |
| 16 | Yuki Tsunoda | AlphaTauri | Q1 |
| 17 | Alex Albon | Williams | Q1 |
| 18 | Nyck de Vries | AlphaTauri | Q1 |
| 19 | Lando Norris | McLaren | Q1 |
| 20 | Logan Sargeant | Williams | Q1 |
Perez is hopeful Verstappen can rise up the grid during Sunday's race and join him on the podium.
"You really feel Formula 1 cars coming alive in this place," Perez said, adding, "Max has been really strong this weekend. Hopefully, tomorrow we can have both cars up there.
Despite posting the second-fastest time in qualifying, Charles Leclerc will begin Sunday's race in 12th. He took a 10-spot penalty on the grid after Ferrari was forced to fit another electronics power unit component.
Alonso continued his strong start to his first season with Aston Martin. The veteran secured a podium finish at the season opener in Bahrain.