The thrilling qualifying session for the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix delivered an unexpected turn of events, culminating in Sergio Perez clinching a sensational pole position for the second consecutive year. The Red Bull driver’s mastery of the challenging Jeddah Corniche Circuit was undeniable, especially after his formidable teammate, Max Verstappen, was dramatically eliminated in 15th place due to a driveshaft failure. This unforeseen mechanical issue on Verstappen’s car during Q2 blew the battle for pole wide open, setting the stage for a dramatic climax under the floodlights.
Perez capitalized on the absence of his primary rival, securing the top spot with a commanding performance. Behind him, Charles Leclerc initially qualified second for Ferrari, showcasing strong pace. However, a pre-existing 10-place grid penalty for a power unit component change means the Monegasque driver will drop to 12th on Sunday’s grid. This penalty significantly reshuffles the front of the grid, promoting the evergreen Fernando Alonso and his Aston Martin into a coveted front-row starting position, alongside Perez. The qualifying session was a rollercoaster of emotions and incidents, promising an exhilarating race on the high-speed street circuit.
Q1: Navigating the Initial Gauntlet on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit
The opening phase of qualifying commenced with palpable anticipation, as cars queued eagerly at the pit lane exit, indicative of the drivers’ desire to find clear air on the demanding Jeddah track. The two Williams drivers, Alexander Albon and Logan Sargeant, led the charge onto the circuit. For rookie Nyck de Vries, it was an especially crucial session, having missed all of final practice due to an AlphaTauri power unit change. His first flying lap attempt, however, ended prematurely with a spin under braking into Turn 1. While he skillfully recovered and returned to the garage, it was a baptism by fire for the Dutchman.
Logan Sargeant initially posted a competitive 1’29.721, but his effort was swiftly invalidated for exceeding track limits on the inside of the pit straight, a stern reminder of the circuit’s unforgiving nature. This promoted Nico Hulkenberg to the temporary top spot in his Haas, before the Red Bulls of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez asserted their expected dominance, setting benchmark times. The high-speed layout, lined with unforgiving concrete barriers, quickly claimed its first victim as Lando Norris clipped the inside barrier at the final corner’s apex, necessitating an immediate return to the pits for suspension and wheel checks, severely compromising his session.
Veteran Fernando Alonso also had a moment, spinning under throttle on the exit of Turn 2 during his initial timed run. Displaying his characteristic composure, he regrouped and, after a preparatory charge lap, successfully posted an impressive time that placed him comfortably in fourth. Sargeant’s challenging session continued as he lost control at Turn 22, spinning across the track but narrowly avoiding contact with the barriers. This incident, however, triggered yellow flags, nullifying the promising laps of Hulkenberg, Pierre Gasly, and Esteban Ocon, who were all on course to improve.
As the final minutes of Q1 ticked away, the elimination zone was a tight battleground. Norris, the two AlphaTauris of Yuki Tsunoda and De Vries, alongside Gasly and Sargeant, found themselves under immense pressure. Gasly showcased his experience, vaulting into 11th, pushing Valtteri Bottas into a precarious 16th, though Bottas soon improved to 14th. Tsunoda also found an improvement, clinging to safety in 15th, which in turn nudged Albon into 17th. With the chequered flag waving, only rookie Oscar Piastri had one final chance, and he delivered, escaping the drop zone with a crucial last-gasp effort, sending Tsunoda back into 16th and elimination.
Joining Tsunoda in being knocked out of Q1 were his teammate De Vries, who erred at the final corner on his decisive lap, Norris in his damaged McLaren, and the two Williams drivers. Sargeant’s difficult debut qualifying session ended with him pulling off track after running wide at the first corner and seemingly sustaining damage to his car on the kerb, underscoring the high demands of Formula 1 qualifying.
Q1 Results: Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Qualifying
| Position | Number | Driver | Team | Model | Time | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | RB19 | 1’28.761 | 3 | |
| 2 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull | RB19 | 1’29.244 | 0.483 | 7 |
| 3 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin-Mercedes | AMR23 | 1’29.298 | 0.537 | 7 |
| 4 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin-Mercedes | AMR23 | 1’29.335 | 0.574 | 7 |
| 5 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | SF-23 | 1’29.376 | 0.615 | 8 |
| 6 | 55 | Carlos Sainz Jnr | Ferrari | SF-23 | 1’29.411 | 0.650 | 9 |
| 7 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Haas-Ferrari | VF-23 | 1’29.547 | 0.786 | 10 |
| 8 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | W14 | 1’29.592 | 0.831 | 7 |
| 9 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | Alfa Romeo-Ferrari | C43 | 1’29.654 | 0.893 | 10 |
| 10 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | W14 | 1’29.689 | 0.928 | 7 |
| 11 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren-Mercedes | MCL60 | 1’29.706 | 0.945 | 10 |
| 12 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine-Renault | A523 | 1’29.707 | 0.946 | 8 |
| 13 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas-Ferrari | VF-23 | 1’29.744 | 0.983 | 9 |
| 14 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine-Renault | A523 | 1’29.890 | 1.129 | 8 |
| 15 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Alfa Romeo-Ferrari | C43 | 1’29.929 | 1.168 | 10 |
| 16 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | AlphaTauri-Red Bull | AT04 | 1’29.939 | 1.178 | 10 |
| 17 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams-Mercedes | FW45 | 1’29.994 | 1.233 | 9 |
| 18 | 21 | Nyck de Vries | AlphaTauri-Red Bull | AT04 | 1’30.244 | 1.483 | 10 |
| 19 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren-Mercedes | MCL60 | 1’30.447 | 1.686 | 4 |
| 20 | 2 | Logan Sargeant | Williams-Mercedes | FW45 | 2’08.510 | 39.749 | 8 |
Q2: Verstappen’s Shocking Exit and the Shifting Landscape
The second phase of qualifying ignited with an immediate strategic battle, highlighting the intensity of the competition. Aston Martin, sensing an opportunity, instructed Fernando Alonso to push hard on his out-lap, enabling him to overtake both Haas cars of Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen. This aggressive maneuver secured him clear air for his first flying lap, a crucial advantage on such a fast circuit. Alonso then wasted no time in demonstrating his car’s potential, rocketing to the top of the timesheets with a 1’28.757, nearly half a second quicker than his teammate Lance Stroll.
The session, however, took a seismic turn with the dramatic retirement of Max Verstappen. The Dutchman, after topping all three practice sessions and Q1, took to the track on fresh soft tyres, but his first effort was compromised by a loss of traction exiting Turn 4. Tragically for the championship leader, matters worsened significantly on his second attempt. As he approached Turn 13, a critical and high-speed section of the track, his engine revs suddenly spiked erratically, indicating a major mechanical failure. Verstappen’s immediate suspicion was a power unit issue, though it was later confirmed to be a driveshaft failure.
Despite the critical nature of the problem, Verstappen managed to nurse his ailing Red Bull back to the pits. Upon arrival, he quickly climbed out of his car, his expression a mix of frustration and disbelief. His qualifying session was over, consigning the car that had been the class of the field all weekend to a deeply disappointing 15th place on the grid. This monumental development instantly reshaped the battle for pole, removing the odds-on favorite from contention and creating an unprecedented opportunity for the remaining drivers.
In the wake of Verstappen’s exit, Sergio Perez rose to the occasion for Red Bull, moving up to second. Charles Leclerc, despite his impending grid penalty, claimed third for Ferrari, trailing Alonso by a tenth and a half. Leclerc’s teammate, Carlos Sainz Jnr, had a challenging start, losing his first time by running wide at Turn 10. His second attempt was only good enough for 11th, placing him under immense pressure as the first driver outside the Q3 spots. In the tense final minute, Sainz delivered under pressure, mirroring his teammate’s pace to secure his passage into Q3.
Elsewhere, Kevin Magnussen improved his personal best but not enough to break into the top 10, and then had his time deleted for a track limits infringement, though his second effort was sufficient to keep him in 13th. The two Alfa Romeos of Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas were also eliminated, unable to find the pace required to advance. Pierre Gasly held his nerve impressively, snatching the final Q3 spot by a mere five-hundredths of a second over Nico Hulkenberg, who was consequently eliminated. Sergio Perez concluded the session with the fastest time, putting Red Bull back on top by a tenth over Alonso with his final, decisive effort, signaling his intent for pole.
Q2 Results: Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Qualifying
| Position | Number | Driver | Team | Model | Time | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull | RB19 | 1’28.635 | 13 | |
| 2 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin-Mercedes | AMR23 | 1’28.757 | 0.122 | 12 |
| 3 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | SF-23 | 1’28.903 | 0.268 | 13 |
| 4 | 55 | Carlos Sainz Jnr | Ferrari | SF-23 | 1’28.957 | 0.322 | 17 |
| 5 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin-Mercedes | AMR23 | 1’28.962 | 0.327 | 15 |
| 6 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | W14 | 1’29.132 | 0.497 | 15 |
| 7 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine-Renault | A523 | 1’29.255 | 0.620 | 17 |
| 8 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | W14 | 1’29.374 | 0.739 | 15 |
| 9 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren-Mercedes | MCL60 | 1’29.378 | 0.743 | 18 |
| 10 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine-Renault | A523 | 1’29.411 | 0.776 | 16 |
| 11 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Haas-Ferrari | VF-23 | 1’29.451 | 0.816 | 18 |
| 12 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | Alfa Romeo-Ferrari | C43 | 1’29.461 | 0.826 | 18 |
| 13 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas-Ferrari | VF-23 | 1’29.517 | 0.882 | 17 |
| 14 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Alfa Romeo-Ferrari | C43 | 1’29.668 | 1.033 | 18 |
| 15 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | RB19 | 1’49.953 | 21.318 | 6 |
Q3: The Pole Position Showdown Under the Lights
With Max Verstappen, the dominant force of the weekend, unexpectedly out of contention, the battle for pole position transformed into a wide-open contest. The remaining nine drivers, plus Charles Leclerc with his known penalty, knew this was a golden opportunity. As the green light signaled the start of Q3, Aston Martin wasted no time, sending Fernando Alonso out on fresh soft tyres for his first crucial run. The veteran Spaniard seized the moment, immediately setting a provisional pole time of 1’28.925, igniting hopes within the Aston Martin garage.
Alonso’s reign at the top was short-lived, however, as Charles Leclerc, despite the looming grid penalty, demonstrated Ferrari’s raw pace, pipping Alonso by just over a tenth of a second. George Russell then delivered a strong performance for Mercedes, provisionally placing his car on the front row with his first timed lap. But it was Sergio Perez who truly stamped his authority on the session. In a brilliant display of car control and speed, the Red Bull driver easily snatched provisional pole, setting a lap almost half a second quicker than his closest rival, cementing Red Bull’s continued dominance even without Verstappen.
Lewis Hamilton could only manage fifth with his initial effort, three tenths slower than his teammate Russell, indicating a slight struggle for pace in the Mercedes. The two Alpines of Ocon and Gasly were split by the second Ferrari of Carlos Sainz, showcasing the tight competition in the midfield. Rookie Oscar Piastri, making his first-ever Q3 appearance, could only manage 10th in the McLaren, while Lance Stroll placed just behind his teammate Alonso, solidifying Aston Martin’s strong showing.
In the tense final three minutes of the session, all drivers returned to the track for their last attempts to secure pole position. Alonso was the first to begin his decisive lap. While he couldn’t challenge Perez’s blistering pace for pole, he improved his time to move into a provisional second place, a testament to Aston Martin’s significant progress. Despite going fastest through the first sector, Lance Stroll couldn’t maintain the pace, ultimately moving into sixth, while George Russell found enough to elevate himself to fourth with his final effort.
Sergio Perez, confident in his earlier provisional pole time, elected to abandon his final run, his performance already sufficient to seal pole. Charles Leclerc was the only driver to truly come close to challenging Perez, ultimately securing second place on the qualifying sheet, a mere 0.155 seconds adrift of the Red Bull. However, due to his aforementioned 10-place power unit grid penalty, Leclerc’s impressive qualifying effort will see him start the Grand Prix from 12th position. This reshuffles the top of the grid dramatically, promoting Fernando Alonso to an incredible front-row start alongside pole-sitter Sergio Perez. George Russell will start third, with Carlos Sainz Jr. in fourth. Lance Stroll will line up fifth, ahead of Esteban Ocon’s Alpine and Lewis Hamilton in the second Mercedes. Oscar Piastri will start eighth, having outqualified Pierre Gasly, who will start ninth after Leclerc’s penalty is applied, setting the stage for a fascinating and unpredictable race day.
Q3 Results: Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Qualifying
| Position | Number | Driver | Team | Model | Time | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull | RB19 | 1’28.265 | 18 | |
| 2 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | SF-23 | 1’28.420 | 0.155 | 19 |
| 3 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin-Mercedes | AMR23 | 1’28.730 | 0.465 | 18 |
| 4 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | W14 | 1’28.857 | 0.592 | 21 |
| 5 | 55 | Carlos Sainz Jnr | Ferrari | SF-23 | 1’28.931 | 0.666 | 24 |
| 6 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin-Mercedes | AMR23 | 1’28.945 | 0.680 | 20 |
| 7 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine-Renault | A523 | 1’29.078 | 0.813 | 24 |
| 8 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | W14 | 1’29.223 | 0.958 | 21 |
| 9 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren-Mercedes | MCL60 | 1’29.243 | 0.978 | 23 |
| 10 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine-Renault | A523 | 1’29.357 | 1.092 | 23 |
2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Insights
- “Total transparency” needed over Ben Sulayem allegations – Russell
- FIA president Ben Sulayem under investigation for interfering in F1 race – report
- Two races, no points: How 2023 compares to McLaren’s worst starts to a season
- Don’t complain about Red Bull dominating F1, they deserve it – Sainz
- Alfa Romeo identify “massive debris” which ruined Bottas’ race
Browse all 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix articles