Sergio Perez on Saudi Grand Prix pole with Jeddah double
Sergio Perez qualified on pole for the second time in his Formula 1 career on Saturday at the Saudi Arabian grand prix.
Sergio Perez on Saturday in Saudi Arabia. (Pirelli)
Perez followed up his 2022 pole at the Jeddah Corniche circuit with a lap of 1:28.265 ahead of Charles Leclerc and Fernando Alonso.
With Leclerc facing a 10-spot grid penalty for an engine control unit change, Alonso will start on the front row for Sunday’s grand prix.
“It was tricky that Q3, especially not getting that second lap,” said Perez.
“You really feel the Formula One cars coming alive in this place.”
“Maximising that lap was very important.”
“Max has been really strong the whole weekend, so hopefully tomorrow we can have both cars up there."
Bahrain race-winner Max Verstappen will start P15 after a driveshaft failure in qualifying.
Qualifying report from Saudi Arabia - click to expand. (Pirelli)
Qualifying began with slightly lower track temperatures than those seen in Friday practice, with teams completing qualifying simulations in Free Practice 3 before the mercury dropped by seven degrees.
Verstappen was fastest in practice ahead of Perez, with the Mexican taking pole position as technical issues and grid penalties set a mixed grid for Grand Prix Sunday.
Perez was awarded the Pirelli Pole Position award by former footballer Patrice Evra, the Frenchman winning five Premier League and one Champions League title during his career.
Sergio Perez (centre), Charles Leclerc, and Fernando Alonso topped qualifying in Saudi Arabia. (Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool)
Alonso continues his resurgence with Aston Martin on the front row for the Saudi grand prix after finishing third in Bahrain.
“It has been a very good weekend for us,” said Alonso.
“Qualifying was our weakness, or a weak point in Bahrain but today the car seemed to perform very well on one lap.”
“And yeah, let's see tomorrow what we can do from here.”
“Obviously, Charles has a penalty, so we'll start on the first row the grid, so this is just amazing.”
George Russell was the highest-placed Mercedes driver and will start the grand prix in third alongside Carlos Sainz, with Lance Sroll and Esteban Ocon on the third row of the grid.
Lewis Hamilton will be looking to make his way forward through the field as Mercedes continues their difficult start to the 2023 season, starting in seventh ahead of Australian Oscar Piastri.
Charles Leclerc will start P12 for Ferrari when the lights go out at 4.00 Monday (AEDT).
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