Saudi Quali : Max DNF, Perez Pole

Perez makes it to the Pole at Saudi Arabia in his dominant Red Bull. Favourite Max Verstappen had a drive shaft issue and he got out in Q2.

Perez on Pole for the second time in Saudi

The Red Bull just looks too dominant, like a Mercedes in its hey day. Max Verstappen, the two time world champion and the current leading driver, comfortably topped all the practice sessions. He was everyone’s favourite to be on Pole. However an unexpected drive shaft issue forced him to retire in the Q2 session. He will be starting P15 in the race. Saudi being a street circuit will be difficult to overtake but trust Max to make the most of the situation. It will be interesting to watch him try to move up the grid in the race. A podium finish cannot be ruled out given the form he is in and the how good the car is.

Perez meanwhile made the most of the situation and took his second Pole at Saudi. He was also doing good in Saudi but couldn’t match Verstappen’s pace at any point. He is now more like Bottas to Hamilton at their peaks. Still Perez would be looking to make the most of the opportunity provided to him and get the race win.

Ferrari couldn’t match Red Bull

Unlike last year it seems that Ferrari are a few tenths behind the Red Bulls. On top of that Max is in great form and Ferrari has no answer to them. Charles LeClerc is good at stringing together a nice lap in Quali and this time was no different. He extracted the maximum possible from the Ferrari and put his car on P2. However he had to change his control electronics which incurred a 10-place grid penalty. So he will be starting P12 in the race.

Carlos Sainz Jr menawhile had a scratchy Quali session, made too many mistakes, especially in the first sector and he will be starting P4 in the race.

Aston Martin and Alonso continue their good form

Everyone was wondering where the crazy pace of Aston Martin was just a one-off in Bahrain or is there more to it. The Saudi track is very different to Bahrain and Aston Martin kept their pace here too. Alonso put in a superb lap to finish P3 and he will be starting from the front row, thanks to Charles’ penalty. Lance Stroll, still not 100% recovered, was not bad either and he will be starting P5.

Mediocre Mercedes

Just like 2022, Mercedes this year too is all over the place. They are not fight for the front and they can be anywhere competing with the Ferraris to be being behind the Aston Martins. Both Hamilton and George look increasingly dis-illusioned with the car and just want to move on. Still George put in a decent lap when it mattered and will be starting P3 in the race. Lewis lacked the pace and he will starting P7.

The Alpines looked decent and both Ocon and Gasly managed to get in the top 10. Norris hit a wall in Q1 and that ended in Quali session but rookie team-mate Piastri did a great job and he will be starting from P8. Logan Sargeant looked good in Q1 but his lap time was deleted for track infringement and then he just couldn’t get a good lap in.

Saudi 2023 Grid : Perez and Alonso on the front row