Saudi Arabia GP Qualifying Report

The biggest breakingist news from Jeddah was that Sainz arrived with appendicitis and had to undergo surgery immediately.  This meant that their reserve driver was called up, a young whippersnapper called Bearman.  He was able to have a little go in Free Practice.

Zhou and Sargeant both came to Qualifying having dinted the car.  Whilst Piastri hit the wall during Q1, it was Zhou suffered, only just getting out in time to try and put in a timed lap but didn't make it.  So both Saubers went out with both Alpines and Sargeant too.

During Q2, I spied a car in the background of a shot.  A while after, the commentators picked up that a car had stopped.  Then, finally, the Yellow Flags were waved followed by a Red Flag to stop the session as Hulkenberg's car had lost power and was waiting at the side of the track.

Ricciardo was out next to Hulk, with his team mate through to Q3; he needs to pull his socks up.  Magnussen was next up, then Albon and rookie Bearman in P11 on his first shot.

Traffic was a bit of a problem in all three sessions but LeClerc went out on a different pattern from the rest which meant he had to overtake slower cars, compromising his first hot lap.  In the dying moments of the final session, Alonso stole a tow from Hamilton whilst Russell aborted his lap.  LeClerc and Alonso put in the final quick laps.  Verstappen took pole, sharing the front row with LeClerc.  Perez is behind him, next to Alonso.  The McLarens fill the next row (Piastri ahead of Norris), then the Mercedes (Russell ahead if Hamilton).  Finally was Tsunoda then Stroll.

Could a rookie in the mix for the race shake things up?  Can LeClerc take the race to Verstappen?