Sergio Perez on pole for Red Bull in Saudi Arabia for 2nd year running

JEDDAH: Sergio Perez stepped up for Red Bull to ensure the team started from the pole at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after a mechanical issue sidelined two-time defending world champion Max Verstappen. Verstappen was fastest in all three practice sessions at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit but his qualifying effort was cut short Saturday when he radioed “I have a problem. Engine, engine problem,” during the second session.

The Dutchman drove to the pits, where a driveshaft issue was discovered, and Verstappen’s qualifying effort was over. It left Perez as the lone Red Bull representative in the final round of qualifying and he went on to win pole for the second consecutive year — the only two poles of his career. Verstappen will start 15th.

Charles Leclerc qualified second for Ferrari but will drop 10 positions at the start of Sunday’s race because of a grid penalty for exceeding the allotted electronics control unit on the car’s engine in the season-opening race. The penalty to Leclerc pushes Fernando Alonso to the front row for the start after the Spaniard qualified third in his new Aston Martin ride. Alonso finished third in his season-opening debut race with Aston in Bahrain.

George Russell qualified fourth for Mercedes — four spots ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time champion qualified eighth. Carlos Sainz Jr.

was fifth for Ferrari followed by Lance Stroll of Aston Martin. Esteban Ocon was seventh. Oscar Piastri was ninth for McLaren and Pierre Gasly 10th for Alpine.