The Mexican Sergio Pérez (Red Bull) achieved this Saturday the first pole position of his entire career in Formula 1, by being the fastest in the qualifying session of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, ahead of the Monegasque Charles Leclerc ( Ferrari).
Source: AFP
On the second row of the starting grid will be the other Ferrari, that of the Spanish Carlos Sainz Jr (third this Saturday), and the other Red Bull, that of the current Dutch world champion Max Verstappen (fourth).
This Saturday’s qualifying session at the Jeddah circuit was marked by a violent accident of Mick Schumacher (Haas) in the second round of the session (Q2) and also by the surprise elimination in the first round (Q1) of Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes).
Hamilton posted the 16th fastest time in Q1, with the top 15 entering Q2. The English driver hadn’t been eliminated in a qualifying session so early since the 2017 Brazilian Grand Prix.
Asked about his state of mind following Friday’s attack on an oil facility near the circuit and his elimination, Hamilton said he “wanted to go home”, without giving further details.
Regarding Mick Schumacher’s accident, which caused a red flag and a major interruption of Q2, “the first diagnosis revealed no injuries”, according to the International Automobile Federation (FIA).
The son of the legendary Michael Schumacher lost control of his Haas car in a series of fast corners and went into a wall, causing significant damage to the car. He was taken first to the circuit’s medical center and then to a nearby hospital for further tests.
