Oscar Piastri will begin Monday morning’s Saudi Arabia Grand Prix within the prime 10 after a sensational qualifying efficiency.
Key factors:
- Oscar Piastri was ninth quickest in qualifying, however will begin eighth
- Purple Bull driver Sergio Perez will begin on pole
- Max Verstappen suffered a driveshaft concern in qualifying and can begin fifteenth
In simply his second profession F1 begin, the Australian will start eighth in his McLaren, hoping to safe his first championship factors.
Piastri certified ninth quickest across the streets of Jeddah however was promoted to eighth after Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc took a grid penalty for the electronics bundle to his automobile.
“P8 on the grid. It was good to get into Q3,” Piastri mentioned after beginning close to the again of the sector in his debut.
“I am tremendous completely satisfied to be within the prime 10, and it was a superb expertise to do all three [qualifying] periods.
“Now we’ll work laborious to take advantage of this place and produce residence a constructive outcome within the race.”
Piastri’s first race lasted simply 15 laps earlier than he retired on account of automobile failure.
It was a troublesome begin to the season for the McLaren workforce, with Lando Norris additionally having automobile troubles that compelled him to pit six instances.
The Briton made a mistake within the first qualifying session in Saudi Arabia and was knocked out early.
Norris will begin the race nineteenth on the grid.
“I made a foolish mistake; it is disappointing as a result of it price me an opportunity to enter Q3,” he mentioned.
“The automobile was good, and I used to be feeling comfy on the market.
“On the brilliant aspect, it is a lengthy race tomorrow with loads of alternatives, so I stay up for that. Hopefully, I could make up for the error, and we will attempt to battle our method forwards.”
Purple Bull’s Sergio Perez will begin on pole for the second consecutive yr in Jeddah alongside the Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso.
Defending champion Max Verstappen will begin fifteenth after struggling a difficulty along with his driveshaft throughout qualifying.
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