Perez on pole in the Jeddah GP. Verstappen: sensational knockout, problems for Red Bull. Leclerc 12th after the penalty
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Like a year ago, Sergio Perez he takes the pole position of the Formula One Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia, completing the flying lap in 1:28:265. The Mexican Red Bull driver will be joined on the front row by Fernando Alonso. The second time on the track was achieved by an amazing one Charles Leclercwith a gap of 155 thousandths, but the Ferrari driver will be relegated ten positions on the grid for having changed the control unit of his Red: “I’m very happy with my lap – says the Milanese – because I gave everything. The Red Bulls belong to another planet and we are suffering, but we hope to be back there as soon as possible. The race pace seemed good, even if we are all very close”.
Gp of Arabia, the sensational stop of Verstappen
The most sensational news, however, is another: after dominating the qualifications up to that moment, Max Verstappen he stopped. The best time in Q1 suggested an easy pole position for the Dutchman. Then, in Q2, the unexpected: the world champion first risked losing his car at turn 23 and was forced to give up the lap. In the following lap, he slowed down a lot, with the car in seventh gear. He managed to change but was forced to proceed at cruising speed to the pits, where he parked his Red Bull, getting out of the car: a problem with the right rear axle shaft, the piece that connects the gearbox differential to the wheel. He will start from 15th position on the starting grid. Now he is planning a great comeback: “Problems can always happen – he explained – but we have a good car, it’s fast. Without a doubt I want to score points, then we’ll see”.
F1, the starting grid of the Jeddah GP. Perez in pole position
Gp of Arabia, Sainz’s Ferrari in the second row
And so space for Perez and his big break, even if the Aston Martin he showed in Bahrain that he is stronger in the race than in qualifying and Fernando Alonso dreams of success: “Actually – the Spaniard smiles – the battle for pole was our weak point, in Bahrain, but here in Arabia the car performed well on the flying lap. Our strong point is the race pace, in terms of how we manage to manage the tyres. On Sunday we go better than on Saturday. So being on the front row is very, very important”.
Excellent George Russellwho obtained the fourth fastest time and will start from the third position on the grid, flanked by the Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz, never fully at ease on the Jeddah circuit: “I didn’t have a clean lap. We certainly have the possibility of a podium. Victory, on the other hand, seems difficult to me, because the Red Bulls are very fast”. Third row for Lance Stroll, in the other Aston Martin, and Esteban Ocon in the Alpine. Disappointed Lewis Hamilton, who collected more than four tenths of a gap from teammate Russell. Followed by Oscar Piastri in the McLaren and Pierre Gasly in the other Alpine, who will start in the fifth row together with Nico Hulkenberg’s Haas. Start of the race on Sunday 19 March at 6 pm Italian time.
F1, the starting grid of the Jeddah GP. Perez in pole position
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