Sergio Perez took pole in a thrilling Saudi Arabian GP qualifying that saw Lewis Hamilton eliminate early in 16th place and two other drivers severely crash out. Mick Schumacher was airlifted from the hospital following a huge shunt.

Perez won the Ferraris by a narrow margin to secure a remarkable and surprising first pole for Red Bull at the 219th Grand Prix. The Q3 shootout completed a Jeddah qualifying session that was full of memorable moments.

Nicholas Latifi crashed out earlier in Q1 in Williams, before Hamilton was knocked out for the first-ever time in this segment since 2017.

More red flags were raised in Q2 when Schumacher lost control over his Haas and crashed at Turn 12. This caused an hour delay before qualifying. The Haas car was taken out of the track and repaired by Jeddah.

Schumacher was taken to the hospital by air, but was declared to be in good health and released on Saturday evening. But, he will not be able to race Sunday.

Ten drivers advanced to Q3, but not many people would have predicted Perez being the favorite.

Perez, just as Charles Leclerc appeared to be heading a Ferrari two-two in Sunday’s race on Sunday, clocked one of his best laps to defeat the Monegasque just 0.25 seconds.

Carlos Sainz finished third behind Max Verstappen. Perez’s Red Bull teammate was surprising off-color when it really mattered. Red Bull and Ferrari will likely go head to head for victory in F1’s fastest street racing.

George Russell was able to extract more from his Mercedes than Hamilton. He finished sixth after Esteban Ocon, who won the Alpine.

Saudi Arabian GP Qualifying Results — top 10

1. Sergio Perez, Red Bull
2. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
3. Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
4. Max Verstappen, Red Bull
5. Esteban Ocon, Alpine
6. George Russell, Mercedes
7. Fernando Alonso, Alpine
8. Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo
9. Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri
10. Kevin Magnussen, Haas

Hamilton’s exit from Q1 and frightening crashes: Saudi Qualy Drama

Following a strike on an oil facility nearby, Friday night’s crisis talks saw drivers attempt to reach a compromise. F1, the FIA, and the grid agreed that the Jeddah race would be continued. Final practice and qualifying took place on Saturday.

The shootout was full of drama. It all began in Q1 when Latifi crashed at Turn 13. Williams became the first driver to test the limits on the punishing Corniche circuit. He was uninjured when he was taken to the emergency room.

Then came Hamilton’s elimination in 16th, one of most surprising qualifying events in recent history.

The weather and bad luck were not the reason for Hamilton’s downfall. He was unable to keep up with Lance Stroll, who was able to make a few flying laps and use his softest tires to get him to that point.

This was his first Q1 eliminator since the Brazilian GP 2017, where he crashed.

Hamilton showed surprise when Russell told him about the deficit. Russell was fourth in that segment. Sky F1’s Paul Di Resta replied: “That is not Lewis Hamilton we are familiar with.”

“There has to be something wrong with that car.”

Then, there was another, and this one more important, crash. Schumacher crashed sideways into Turn 12’s barriers during Q2.

Pictures did not immediately show replays — leading to fears over his well-being — although the German, son of F1 legend Michael, was said to be conscious before making his way to the medical center.

Haas said he was fine, and he was then flown by helicopter to the hospital for additional precautionary checks. Haas did not summon a replacement and he was later released.

Perez holds another Red Bull vs Ferrari match

Following an hour delay, Q2 concluded — with Lando Norris narrowly avoiding the top-10 shootout in the McLaren — before Ferrari appeared to be romping away in the battle for pole in Q3.

Red Bull almost exclusively has Verstappen as their lead driver on Saturdays, but he endured what he called a “terrible first lap” while Leclerc, Sainz, and Leclerc found form. Perez took pole just as Ferrari looked set to make a perfect start in F1 2022.

The Mexican said, “I can run a thousand laps. I don’t think that I can beat that lap. It was incredible.”

The race will be a thrilling one with Red Bull Racing and Ferrari at the front, and a mixed-up grid in between. All the action will be live on Sky Sports F1 starting at 6pm and building up from 4.30pm.