Perez on pole, Hamilton in recovery mode for F1's 'most dangerous' race

Sergio Perez lines up on pole ahead of the Ferraris while Lewis Hamilton faces a recovery mission from 14th as drivers prepare to take on what they have described as F1's "most dangerous" race, the Saudi Arabian GP.

There is a mixed-up grid and talking points aplenty ahead of today's Grand Prix, which is live on Sky Sports F1 at 6pm, with build-up from 4.30pm.

Perez will head the field from pole position for the first time in his experienced career - with 214 race starts to his name - today after a superb lap to edge out favourite Charles Leclerc, who had topped all practice sessions.

Carlos Sainz starts third ahead of world champion Max Verstappen, with Red Bull and Ferrari set to battle for the top positions again in the second race of F1 2022.

"We have been focusing more on the race," admitted Perez, who hailed the lap that beat Bahrain GP winner Leclerc by two hundredths of a second as one of the best in his life.

"Hopefully that pays us back and we can dominate."

Absent from the top two rows from the grid are Mercedes, and while George Russell starts a respectable sixth given the world champions' struggles, team-mate Hamilton will line up way down in 14th.

Even that is better than it could have been; Hamilton is set to rise two positions due to Mick Schumacher's absence following his high-speed crash and Daniel Ricciardo's grid penalty for blocking Esteban Ocon.

"I don't what I'm going to be able to do... I'm a long way back," said Hamilton, who also admitted he was considering changing his Mercedes set-up and starting from the pit-lane due to his "undriveable" W13.

Saudi Arabian GP: Provisional grid1) Sergio Perez, Red Bull2) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari3) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari4) Max Verstappen, Red Bull5) Esteban