Summary

  • Perez takes pole, Leclerc 2nd, Alonso 3rd

  • Verstappen out in second session with power issue; Norris out in first session

  • Leclerc will take grid penalty, meaning Alonso starts 2nd and Russell 3rd

  • Get involved using #BBCF1 on Twitter

Live Reporting

Lorraine McKenna

  1. Well then. What do we think will happen now?

    Out on track and Carlos Sainz, Valtteri Bottas, Zhou Guanyu and Nico Hulkenberg are in the danger zone.

  2. Jack Nicholls
    BBC Radio 5 Live F1 commentator

    He's getting out, Max Verstappen won't be starting on pole at the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix, he will be starting 15th at best.

  3. Verstappen out of qualifying
    Breaking

    The Dutchman is out of the car. That's Max Verstappen's qualifying over with today.

  4. Team radio- Verstappen

    "It's almost not accelerating."

  5. The next set of instructions for Max Verstappen is to try and limp home back to the garage. The reigning world champion is down in 14th place and is looking at a Q2 elimination.

  6. Alice Powell
    British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Something is happening as Red Bull are looking a bit shocked as they thought P1 was 100% on the cards for Max, he's still got drive as he's still moving and so he's going to get back to the garage.

  7. Team radio- Verstappen

    "I have a problem."

  8. 'Big moment' for Verstappen

    Max Verstappen just said he had a "big moment" and now things have got slightly worse for the Dutchman. The next message comes in and the two-time world champion says he has a problem with his engine.

  9. Fernando Alonso has picked up two purple sectors on his first flying lap and the Aston Martin is into to the 1:28s and is top of the board.

    Charles Leclerc took the purple medal in the final sector but his time is only good to slot into second spot, three tenths away from the Spaniard.

  10. Q1 classification

    Full times and gaps from the opening qualifying session.

    Q1Formula 1 Twitter

  11. Alice Powell
    British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    So he's (Sargeant) basically made a mistake, frustration, gone over the curb, had his lap time deleted prior to that which is why he's frustrated, then spun and gone over the curb and then just lit up the rear.

  12. Go! Go! Go!

    Cars are waiting to get out. Q2 is green.

  13. Logan Sargeant smacked the kerb and was instantly on the radio to say "ahhh, it's all over."

  14. Nyck de Vries is gutted. The Dutchman drops some fruity language on the radio and tells his Alpha Tauri pit wall he "messed up the last corner."

  15. Out in Q1

    16. Yuki Tsunoda (Alpha Tauri)

    17. Alex Albon (Williams)

    18. Nyck de Vries (Alpha Tauri)

    19. Lando Norris (McLaren)

    20. Logan Sargeant (Williams)

  16. yellow flag

    Yellow flag

    Logan Sargeant has stopped on the track.

    Valtteri Bottas in his Alfa Romeo who snuck in and eventually pushed Yuki Tsunoda out in Q1.

  17. Lance Stroll is up to fourth fastest.

    Zhou Guanyu goes ninth quickest.

    Yuki Tsunoda is on the cusp in 15th place. Is the Alpha Tauri man going to be safe?

    No. Oscar Piastri in the McLaren saves himself at the last minute.

  18. Logan Sargeant is against the clock now to try and get a lap in. Phew, the American reaches the line in time.

    The Alpine of Esteban Ocon goes seventh fastest, while his team-mate Pierre Gasly only manages 11th.

  19. Norris out!

    Jack Nicholls
    BBC Radio 5 Live F1 commentator

    Norris is going to be eliminated in this first part of qualifying.

  20. Alice Powell
    British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    The consistency needs to be better, it needs to not be chopping and changing from one weekend to the next.