Red Bull driver Sergio Pérez of Mexico during qualifying for the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah on March 18, 2023.
Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) – Sergio Pérez from Red Bull won the qualification for the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia, just like a year ago. His teammate and defending champion Max Verstappen will start from 15th place due to technical problems.
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Photo gallery: World Championship of Formula 1 cars in the 2023 season
Due to illness, Verstappen arrived at the venue of the race with a day's delay until Friday, but he did not find the conqueror in the training sessions in Jeddah. Today he was aiming for his second pole position of the season, but in the second part of the qualification his car stopped working and the two-time champion had to withdraw.
The second place in the qualification was taken by Charles Leclerc from Ferrari, but due to the replacement of the engine control electronics components he will ten places at the start. The reigning world vice-champion will start Sunday's race from twelfth position.
Thanks to the penalty for Leclerc, veteran Fernando Alonso from Aston Martin, who finished third in qualifying, moved into the first row. The two-time world champion could have thought about his first pole position since 2012 for a long time, but at the decisive moment he had to bow down in front of Pérez and Leclerc. Carlos Sainz of Ferrari will start. They were followed by Lance Stroll from Aston Martin, Esteban Ocon from Alpine and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes.
Sunday's race is scheduled from 6 p.m.
Qualification to the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Formula 1 World Championship race in Jeddah:
1. Pérez (Mex./Red Bull) 1:28.265, 2. Leclerc (Mon./Ferrari) -0.155, 3. Alonso (Sp./Aston Martin) -0.465, 4. Russell (Brit./Mercedes) -0.592, 5 .Sainz (Sp./Ferrari) -0.666, 6. Stroll (Can./Aston Martin) -0.680.
Note Leclerc will lose ten places at the start due to an unauthorized replacement of the electronic control.
