Perez in pole place, Hamilton in restoration mode for ‘most harmful’ Method 1 race

Take a look at the provisional grid for as we speak’s race with Sergio Perez on pole, Lewis Hamilton 14th and Mick Schumacher absent after the excessive velocity crash; Perez calls F1’s ‘most harmful’ observe; Watch Saudi Arabian GP reside on Sky Sports activities F1 at 6pm, with a lift from 4.30pm

Sergio Perez strains up on pole forward of Ferrari as Lewis Hamilton faces the duty of recovering from 14th place because the drivers put together for what they describe because the “most harmful” race in Method One, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

There’s a combined community and plenty of speaking factors forward of as we speak’s Grand Prix, which is Stay on Sky Sports activities F1 at 6pm, with a rise from 4.30pm.

Perez will head the sector from pole place for the primary time in his skilled profession – with 214 races to start together with his title – as we speak after an excellent lap to beat favourite Charles Leclerc, who topped all observe periods.

Carlos Sainz begins third, forward of world champion Max Verstappen, with Pink Bull and Ferrari set to battle for the highest spots as soon as once more within the second race of F1 2023.

“We centered extra on the race,” admitted Perez, who praised the lap that beat Bahrain Grand Prix winner Leclerc by two hundredths of a second as probably the greatest races of his life.

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Anthony Davidson compares Lewis Hamilton’s first-quarter lap with teammate George Russell, after the shock exit of the seven-times world champion

“I hope this value pays us again and we will dominate.”

Mercedes misses the highest two rows of the grid, and whereas George Russell begins a good sixth given the struggling of the world champions, teammate Hamilton will line up for 14th.

Even that is higher than it might have been; Hamilton is ready to rise two locations as a result of absence of Mick Schumacher after his excessive velocity crash and Daniel Ricciardo’s penalty kick to dam Esteban Ocon.

Hamilton, who has additionally admitted that he’s contemplating altering his Mercedes line-up and ranging from the race lane as a consequence of his “indivisible” W13, mentioned.

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Anthony Davidson compares the final qualifying laps of Sergio Perez and Charles Leclerc because the Mexican completed first

Saudi Arabia Award: Short-term Community
1) Sergio Perez, Pink Bull
2) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
3) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
4) Max Verstappen, Pink Bull
5) Esteban Ocon, Alps
6) George Russell, Mercedes
7) Fernando Alonso, Alps
8) Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo
9) Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri
10) Kevin Magnussen, Haas
11) Lando Norris, McLaren
12) Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo
13) Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
14) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
15) Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren *
16) Alex Albon, Williams
17) Nico Hulkenberg – Aston Martin
18) Nicholas Latifi, Williams
19) Yuki Tsunoda, Alpha Toure
* Grid penalty of three locations

Drivers put together for ‘most harmful’ Method 1 circuit

That is the second Method 1 2023 race and the second on the Corniche circuit, which debuted final November. The observe, winding alongside the coast of Jeddah, is the quickest avenue sports activities observe, with 27 corners, principally high-speed, filled with hazards the place concrete partitions dominate the motive force’s eye line.

There was plenty of drama in final yr’s race, with two crimson flags and a number of other crashes, whereas Saturday’s qualifying introduced extra dangers with two huge crashes for Nicholas Latifi and Schumacher.

Schumacher was airlifted to hospital however mentioned he was unhurt. Nonetheless, it was a reminder of the hazard and with 19 vehicles accelerating across the observe close to the race, extra mayhem is to be anticipated.

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Mick Schumacher had a significant accident in qualifying for the Saudi Grand Prix, however happily the Haas driver didn’t undergo any accidents consequently.

“I feel it is undoubtedly probably the most harmful place on the calendar,” Perez mentioned. “There isn’t any secret in that.

“If I get it fallacious, it may very well be a significant accident.”

Hamilton described Schumacher’s accident as “terrifying”, whereas Leclerc added: “It is a very troublesome place.

“That is one of many causes I like this observe however I nonetheless assume there are issues we will do to enhance some locations. Sector 1 is clearly very quick and might be very troublesome in some locations, as we have seen with Mick now, so possibly there’s a little bit little bit of Issues we will change sooner or later.”

“I can not conceal the joy I really feel driving on this observe, particularly in one of many qualifying rounds. It feels nice. However yeah, security comes first and possibly we will do one thing else there.”

Sainz, like his teammate, was in “two minds”.

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Stefano Domenicali says F1 presence in Saudi Arabia is constructive however you may’t change cultures within the blink of a watch

“I like the adrenaline rush that provides you qualifying right here,” he mentioned.

“However on the similar time, you understand that should you crash right here, it is going to in all probability damage a little bit greater than wherever else on the calendar as a result of the partitions are nearer and the velocity is increased.

“Is it actually value it? If I had this big crash when you can push the partitions a little bit additional and provides us a little bit extra room to sluggish the automotive down if we lose it like Mick misplaced it as we speak. It is a dialogue that we have to have as a result of possibly it is restricted A bit. And it is thrilling for Method 1. It is thrilling for us, nevertheless it’s additionally on the restrict.”

GP Saudi Arabia schedule reside on Sky Sports activities F1

Sunday 27 March
2.30pm: Method 2 function race
4.30 pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Saudi Arabia *
6 pm: Saudi Arabia Grand Prix
8 p.m.: Checkered flag: Saudi Arabia *
9:30 pm: Highlights of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Championship