Perez RUES missed opportunity as Red Bull dominate - Top Three Saudi GP qualifying verdict
Perez RUES missed opportunity as Red Bull dominate - Top Three Saudi GP qualifying verdict
Max Verstappen ran away with another pole position for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix ahead of qualifying supremo Charles Leclerc in second and street circuit specialist Sergio Perez in third.
The Dutchman appears untouchable currently and is already running away at the top of the championship in an RB20 which holds a significant advantage over its rivals.
READ MORE: EXCLUSIVE: F1 champion insists Red Bull NOT responsible for 2023 success
His closest competitor appears to be Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, but without mid-race interruptions, they are not quick enough to challenge on pure pace.
Even Sergio Perez has set himself up well to help Red Bull achieve a second consecutive 1-2, as he sat three tenths behind his team-mate after the conclusion of Q3.
Here’s what the drivers had to say post-qualifying...
Max Verstappen
“It was a very good day,” said Verstappen. “We improved the car a little bit overnight and that gave me a bit more confidence to attack the high-speed corners and around here it depends a lot on your confidence level and how much you can go to the limit.
“Today I felt very comfortable in the car. Throughout qualifying, it was pretty crazy how fast you go around here. It was very good. I had a lot of fun and the car behaved very well.
"As we have seen in the past, there have been a lot of crazy races around here. A lot can happen," he continued.
"Normally people say 'it's an easy one-stop, easy to the line'. But It's not like that around here. A lot of straight as well.
"But I'm confident with the race pace we have that the car will work really well."
Charles Leclerc
“The first lap in Q3 we tried something different doing a preparation lap but that didn't work out well for us,” Leclerc explained. “Then in the second lap I put everything together and that's what was in the car today.
“So, I am really happy with the lap, a shame that we are a bit further away than what we hoped in qualifying, but tomorrow is the race and I hope we have a good surprise and can challenge the Red Bulls.”
Sergio Perez
“I didn't get much of an improvement on the final lap, which is why we missed the front row,” he said.
“Overall, Max had a tremendous lap and that wasn't possible for me today but being on the front row was achievable. Anyway, we are still in the fight for tomorrow. It's a long race and anything can really happen.
“It will be quite interesting. I think it will be a long, fun race. I think there will be plenty of action. The cars around us are all very close, so it will be an interesting battle tomorrow.”
READ MORE: Verstappen backs father as Red Bull F1 fractures DEEPEN
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Newey TURNED DOWN F1 rivals before Red Bull decision
- 47 minutes ago
Newey's wife 'scoping out properties' in MAJOR hint over next move
- 1 hour ago
Marko reveals how Verstappen has HELPED Perez at Red Bull
- 2 hours ago
Ferrari bound Bearman set to make key F1 move
- 3 hours ago
F1 News Today: Verstappen delivers MAJOR Newey warning as Hamilton hints at Ferrari swoop
- Today 12:11
F1 decision announced regarding points system change
- Today 11:58
Related news
Red Bull F1 stars offer contrasting F1 advice to next generation
F1 pundit details GLARING Mercedes issue
Bearman reveals F1 LEGEND 'message' sent to him before Ferrari debut
Hamilton hug with Bearman and Tsunoda BLANKS Sky presenter – FIVE things you may have missed at the Saudi Arabian GP
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860