F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix LIVE RESULT: Verstappen WINS after epic Leclerc battle as Hamilton down in 10th – reaction

Max slams Saudi track

Max Verstappen has slammed the Saudi Arabia's Grand Prix's "very, very dangerous" track after Mick Schumacher's horror crash in Q2.

Speaking ahead of today's GP, the Red Bull star said: "Last year for me, personally, I was happy with how we went through the weekend in terms of crashes.

"In some places, if you lose the car like today with Mick and you go flat out into the wall it is extremely painful and very, very dangerous.

“Not only that, the straights are not entirely straight because they're all a bit blind.

"I don't understand why you need to design the track [like this].

"If it's going to be flat out just design it straight. It's just safer for everyone."

Sports minister reacts to dissent from drivers

Saudi Arabian authorities would have called off the Gulf kingdom's Formula One race if there had been any security threat to the event after an attack by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis on an oil storage facility near the track in Jeddah, the country's sports minister said.

The Houthi group on Friday said it had launched attacks on Saudi energy facilities.

One of the targets was a petroleum products distribution station owned by state-run oil giant Aramco located about 10km to the east of the track.

The strike, which followed similar attacks last Sunday, raised questions about whether the race should go ahead.

Saudi sports minister Prince Abdulaziz Bin Turki Al-Faisal told reporters: ”If there is a threat, then rest assured we will cancel the race, but there is no threat and thats what we discussed with everyone.

"Of course, the security and safety for everyone is a bigger issue than just hosting a race, even if it is the size of Formula One, so the security of the city, the security of the kingdom is the top priority."

Back on track

Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen and George Russell are all back at the racecourse in Saudi Arabia.

Some conversations and some chilling out before the action begins at 6pm.

Mick Schumacher is also back and looks raring to go, which is a relief to see for all F1 fans.

Drivers worried they'd be attack target

Frightened F1 drivers were unanimously AGAINST racing in today's Saudi Grand Prix.

And they were only persuaded to carry on after lengthy talks with team bosses and F1 chiefs.

There are claims some felt BULLIED into competing in yesterday's qualifying, which was overshadowed by Haas ace Mick Schumacher's 170mph crash.

Red Bull star Sergio Perez admitted that the drivers were “concerned about our safety" following Friday's shocking Houthi rebels' rocket attack on an oil depot just six miles from the circuit.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said: "Everybody is free to take a decision and if a team member decides not to race, they are free to do so.

"The drivers were pretty united in their initial discussions but then we were able to convince them the race was the best thing to do."

Hamilton was banned from talking to media

Finnish newspaper  says Lewish Hamilton was stopped from talking to reporters by F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali after their decision to continue with the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. 

It is said that F1 drivers were overwhelmingly AGAINST competing following safety fears over the track and Friday’s terrorist rocket attack just six miles away.

The Finnish reports claim: “Stefano Domenicali made sure Hamilton was not allowed in front of the microphones".

After a disappointing qualifying session, Hamilton was asked his views on the car.

He said: "I’m not here to comment on that. We worked together as a group, we all discussed and made a decision as a sport."

Schumacher stays off the track

Haas boss Gunther Steiner says a rush job to fix Mick Schumacher’s car for today's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix would have risked the next race in Melbourne.

Schumacher, 23, will not be racing today after the terrifying smash left his car split in two.

The Australian Grand Prix is April 10 and Steiner reckons it wasn't worth the risk to get Schu driving in Saudi.

He said: "You could work all night and then on race morning find out you've compromised yourself so much because you did everything in a hurry.

"Then you end up with not all the spare parts in Australia, and then you have a little thing happen in Australia, and then you cannot race when you in theory should be in a better position.

"It doesn't make sense to me. It's just like trying too hard to call it.

"You have to ship everything from here to Melbourne.

"We cannot ship it to the UK now to do all the stuff on the car like you need, to crack check and all those other good things.

"It would be just not a good job for knowing that you cannot end up in the points if you start from the pitlane this year, as there's too many good teams out there."

Grid positions

A reminder of the grid places today as Red Bull's Sergio Perez is on pole for the very first time.

Lewis Hamilton is in 15th - yes, you read that right.

Mercedes team-mate George Russell will start the race in sixth.

1) Perez

2) Leclerc

3) Sainz

4) Verstappen

5) Ocon

6) Russell

Ferrari closing in on Perez

Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz start second and third respectively as they look to get another Ferrari victory.

But Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto has declared that the Formula One drivers are still not 100 per cent happy about racing in Sunday's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

There were fears that the second race of the 2022 season could be called off following Friday's terror attack just miles away from the Jeddah circuit.

But Ferrari team principal Binotto has stated that drivers are still not totally happy to compete this weekend.

He remarked: "I don't think we said they are 100 per cent happy and fully relaxed.

"Certainly they are still concerned but they have listened to the assurances we gave them and they understand the importance to stay here, and try to race because that is the best choice we can make.

"Leaving the country would not have been the right choice.."

Top 10 - Perez pips the Ferrari partners

A reminder of the top 10 grid places today as Sergio Perez is on pole for the very first time.

1) Perez

2) Leclerc

3) Sainz

4) Verstappen

5) Ocon

6) Russell

7) Alonso

8) Bottas

9) Gasly

10) Magnussen

Toto-ly unacceptable

Mercedes chief Toto Wolff was livid after qualifying for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, calling Lewis Hamilton's 16th place finish "totally unacceptable", writes SIMON RICE.

The seven-time world champion was miles off the pace and shockingly eliminated in Q1.

It was the first time Hamilton had been eliminated at the first stage since Brazil 2017, and his first without a crash since 2009.

What made the dreadful qualifying session all the more brutal is that Hamilton won in Jeddah only back in December - highlighting how far Mercedes have fallen in just a few months.

Wolff, 50, told Motorsport Week: “I always love competition. We had a really strong run of eight years leading the pack – not always, but we kind of managed our way into the lead – but this time feels a bit like 2013 when we just weren’t up to the speed of the Red Bulls and probably also the Ferraris.

“We kept fighting and this is how I feel at the moment – we need to fight.

“It’s certainly totally unacceptable where we are on performance. We are third on the road, and sometimes not even that like today. It’s just not an option to stay where we are.”

It’s certainly totally unacceptable where we are on performance.

Toto WolffMotorsport Week

Today's race information

Race - 6pm (9pm local time).

The F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is live on Sky Sports F1.

You can stream all the action live with a Sky Go account or the Sky Sports app.

Non-Sky Sports subscribers can still watch the whole race day with a Now TV Day Pass from £9.99.

Good morning to F1 fans

Sergio Perez's stunning first pole ever for today's Saudi GP is just a sideshow in Jeddah amid more race controversy and Mick Schumacher's 170mph crash.

F1 drivers were overwhelmingly AGAINST competing following safety fears over the track and Friday's terrorist rocket attack just six miles away.

And Lewis Hamilton amazingly will start only 16th on the grid as he was eliminated from qualifying yesterday after just one stage.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said: “The drivers were pretty united in their initial discussions but then we were able to convince them the race was the best thing to do.

“Everyone’s opinions matter but we want to avoid a situation where we did not know if the race was on or not.”

Drivers met for four hours yesterday morning to discuss their worries due to fears the race could be targeted by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels from Yemen.

And after the go-ahead was confirmed, concerns about the track itself escalated due to Schumacher's horror crash.

The Haas driver, 23, confirmed he was "OK" after being airlifted to hospital - but his car was split in two.

Perez then stole pole ahead of Ferrari duo Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz - with his Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen fourth.

Mexican Perez admitted his surprise and claimed he could "do a thousand laps and not beat" his peerless ride.

Crash victim Schumacher says he's 'OK'

Mick Schumacher has told fans he is "OK" after his horror 170mph crash in Saudi Grand Prix qualifying, writes TOM SHEEN.

The Haas driver, 23, will not be racing after the terrifying smash left his car split in two.

But much to the relief of fans all over the world, the German later took to social media to put their minds at ease.

He wrote on Twitter: "Hi everyone, I just wanted to say that I’m OK.

"Thank you for the kind messages. The car felt great, we’ll come back stronger.";

Haas also confirmed that Schumacher would not be able to race in Sunday's GP.

Schumacher, son of seven-time worlds champ Michael, lost control and smashed into a wall during Q2 at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

Drivers were AGAINST Saudi GP go-ahead

F1 drivers were unanimously AGAINST racing in tomorrow's Saudi Grand Prix and needed serious convincing to take part, writes BEN HUNT.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said: "Everybody is free to take a decision and if a team members decides not to race they are free to do so.

"The drivers were pretty united in their initial discussions but then we were able to convince them the race was the best thing to do.

"The drivers are stakeholders in the sport as are the teams and why everyone's opinions matter but we want to avoid a situation like yesterday where we did not know if the race was on or not."

The shock developments happened here in the Jeddah paddock early on Saturday morning where drivers were locked in a meeting that lasted more than four hours.

It came after a fuel depot in the city was hit by a missile launched by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels from Yemen.

The attack happened midway through practice for the Saudi GP and heightened fears that the race would also be targeted.

Drivers stood still dressed in their race suits debating the issue before their respective team bosses, F1 and local officials stepped in to persuade them otherwise.

Hamilton feared crashing in 'nervous' car

Lewis Hamilton endured arguably his worst qualifying performance since the 2009 British GP and says he was lucky he too did not end up in the wall, writes BEN HUNT.

However, he simply did not have the speed or the handling and was knocked out in Q1 and will start in 16th place.

He said: "It's a wonder I wasn't one of the drivers in the wall.

"I just struggled with the balance of the car. I didn't have any rear end. I couldn't go through the corners without the back snapping out.

"I just didn't feel the car beneath me so I struggled with the balance. The car felt very nervous.

Everyone is working as hard as they can and trying to stay positive.

"But I don't anticipate moving very far forwards but I'll give it everything."

Carlos Sainz, who will start in third place, also says discussions need to be made about making safety improvements to the track.

He said: "Is it worth it having that big accident when you can push out the walls and have more run-off? It is a discussion we need to have because it is on the limit."

Perez surprised to land superb first pole

Sergio Perez hailed his first F1 pole position in 215 attempts.

The Red Bull man said: "I can do 1000 laps and not beat that one! We did not expect too much and we were focusing mainly on the race.

"It was difficult this qualifying because we stopped in Q2 and it is difficult to keep your focus to make sure you do that lap.

"But if I can get pole here, I can get it anywhere in the world."

Schumacher in hospital after crash as debate over GP hots up

Mick Schumacher was airlifted to hospital after suffering a high-speed crash - less than 24 hours after the Saudi Arabian GP was plunged into doubt following a missile attack, writes BEN HUNT.

Drivers spent over four hours deliberating whether to take part in this race after a fuel depot was hit just six miles away by Houthis rebels.

But it was the on-track safety that was the focus last night, as this race - dubbed 'the fastest street circuit in the world', comes with extreme danger.

The Jeddah Corniche Circuit features long straights, little-run off areas and concrete walls.

Throughout Saturday, the track action was frequently brought to a stop for crashes. But none more spectacular than Schuamcher's, the son of seven-time world champ, Michael.

Mick, who this week turned 23, ploughed into the wall at around 150mph, destroying his Haas car in the process.

Medics were immediately deployed along with the ambulance and, after being extracted from the wreckage, he was sent to the medical centre for checks.

His Haas team confirmed that the German was conscious and had phoned his mum Corinna to let her know he was ok.

He was then transferred on a stretcher to a waiting medical helicopter.
Shrouded by a green blanket, he was then taken to  King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital, Jeddah, for precautionary checks.

After a 57 minute delay, Sergio Perez took his first pole position of his F1 career in 215 attempts.

Per-fect achievement

F1 media chiefs labelled Sergio Perez's pole-clincher a 'sensational lap'.