Lewis Hamilton, who starts seventh of the grid, speaking to Sky Sports: "It's a beautiful day. I'm looking forward to the race tonight.

"It's a new day, a new opportunity to improve, to do better and be better. I'm focused on just being positive and having fun, I love racing and we are so privileged to do what we do so I'm just going to try and enjoy today,

"I'm naturally going to try and progress forward. George did an amazing job yesterday so he's got a bit of a different race ahead of him. For me, I am going to try and progress and gain as many points for the team."

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Over at Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton says he is "at a bit of a loss" with the W14 car.

The seven-time world champion, who announced he had split with his long-time trainer Angela Cullen on Friday, was again out-qualified by team-mate George Russell and starts his race on the shores of the Red Sea in seventh position, sandwiched between the Alpine of Esteban Ocon and the McLaren of rookie Oscar Piastri.

"George did a great job and is right up there on the second row," said Hamilton. "The car obviously has performance.

"I just don't feel connected to this car. No matter what I do, no matter what I change, I can't get confidence in it. I'm at a bit of a loss."

Hamilton admitted that his lack of performance was "mostly me" and that he was struggling in the high-speed corners around the lap of the Jeddah street circuit.

"In the high-speed, the car is a little unstable on my set-up," he said. "It is a little different [to Russell's]. There is one thing I did differently. Maybe it will be OK for [the race] but less so for [Saturday]"

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer

Image source, Getty Images

Lewis Hamilton's future has been the subject of discussion this weekend after Wolff raised the possibility that his driver could leave the team if they were not able to provide him with a competitive car in the next couple of years.

But Hamilton said leaving Mercedes was not something he was considering.

"I am not focused on that," he said. "I love this team. I am so grateful for everyone who has been on this journey with me. I don't envisage being anywhere else.

"I don't see myself quitting. I don't feel like I am a quitter. But I don't feel like it's giving me a lot. But I am trying to be patient and work with the team and get us to a good place. I am not planning on going anywhere."

He added: "There is no such thing as can't. At the moment it definitely feels like I couldn't get any more out of the car today but I will keep trying."

Andrew Priestley: With the chances of not just one, but multiple Safety Cars being extremely high, Max Verstappen is still in with a great chance of standing on the podium later, and you can’t rule out another win. It all depends when they fall in the story of the race.

Peter Thomas: Now we get to find out how quick that Red Bull really is.

Image source, Getty Images

A penny for the thoughts of Charles Leclerc today?

The 25-year-old's grid penalty for going over his allocation of electronics control units (ECU) following his retirement in Bahrain leaves Leclerc facing a challenging shift ahead in the SF-23 this evening.

While he sees the Red Bulls as "on another planet" this season, Leclerc is still looking for the positives to take into round two in Saudi.

"We need to keep pushing but that's what we are doing as a team," he said. "[Sunday]" is not going to be easy.

"I have a 10-place grid penalty. We'll be starting a little bit further back but we will focus on the race and hopefully come back at the front as quickly as possible."

One thing is for certain in Jeddah tonight: no rain.

Pit lane is open...

Fernando Alonso, who stars P2 today in the Aston Martin, speaking to Sky Sports: "The degradation is very different here compared to Bahrain, so I think we maybe don't have the advantage that we did in Bahrain.

"The car seemed to perform well also in the high speed and we will aim for another podium; let's see if we can reach it.

"All three tyres are a possibility. Obviously the soft will give you a bit of an advantage on the start, mediums also quite ok and the hard gives you freedom in terms of the strategy."

Image source, Getty Images

This was the moment in 2012 when Fernando Alonso, driving the red car of Ferrari, sealed his last Formula 1 pole position at the German Grand Prix in Hockenheim.

His last wins were in China and Spain in 2013.

Imagine this picture, but swap red for green and a Scuderia for an Aston Martin.

Can you see victory happening today?

Use the thumbs below and keep sending us your race predictions on #BBCF1

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer

Image source, Getty Images

It is a little under two months short of 10 years since Fernando Alonso last won a grand prix. Is this the day that drought ends? The Aston Martin driver thinks not. Alonso doesn’t believe his car is fast enough to beat a Red Bull, even if it is Sergio Perez on pole and Max Verstappen starts back in 15th. “We have to be realistic,” Alonso said. “I don’t think we can beat Checo on pace. That’s not the target.”

Perez, though, is definitely concerned. “I’m not thinking about where Max can get to - I’ve got to keep this lion behind me,” he said, gesturing to Alonso. In the race-simulation runs in Friday practice, Perez was faster than Alonso - but only by 0.185 seconds a lap over 15-lap runs. And given Alonso’s relentlessness, especially when he has a sniff of something special, a win has to be considered a possibility.

Despite Perez brushing off the possibility of both being caught by Verstappen, though, many people suspect the world champion will be in the mix for a victory by the end of the race, given how superior he has looked to everyone else all weekend, and the expected ease of overtaking.“With four DRS zones,” Alonso said, “I think everyone will eventually finish in the position you deserve. Red Bull - even Max starting P15 - should be in front of us, or at least on the podium.”

Matthew Murnaghan: I'd love to see a lot of surprises, but I hope Alonso pulls off a surprise for Aston Martin!

Lucy Evans: I'm a huge George fan but I worry about him going into the first corner in every race- is Fernando the next victim of a clumsy start?

Image source, Getty Images

Fernando Alonso said his Aston Martin was just lovely to drive during the season opener two weeks ago, so can the AMR23 deliver the Spanish two-time world champion even more delightful moments in Jeddah?

Saying his grid boost to second "amazing", Alonso added: "It's been a very good weekend for us.

"Qualifying has been a weakness or a weak point in Bahrain, but today the car seemed to perform very well on one lap, so let’s see what we can do from here."

You wouldn't bet against Max Verstappen crossing the line in first place by the end of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix today.

Following his disappointment in Q2, the Dutchman tweeted: "Unfortunate Qualifying with a drive shaft issue. We have a good race car, so it’s all to play for. We’ll give it all we have in the race."

If we get the history books out for the 2022 season, Verstappen pulverised the rest of the field at the Belgian Grand Prix, fighting his way quickly from 14th place to take the lead by lap 18 and disappear into the distance and seal a stunning victory.

Which way is this one going to go?

Max Verstappen steaming through the pack to take his second victory of the 2023 season?

Fernando Alonso making headlines by claiming his first F1 victory since the German Grand Prix nearly 11 years ago?

Sergio Perez converting pole position into a race victory in Saudi?

Ferrari's plan coming together and handing Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc a decent shot at a podium finish?

George Russell being the type of guy who quietly suckers in an Aston Martin and a Red Bull to sweep to a second career win?

All thoughts welcome on this page. Let us know using the hashtag #BBCF1 on Twitter.

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer

Image source, Getty Images

Max Verstappen was a hot favourite for pole going into qualifying but he suffered a loss of drive on his first lap in the second session. It came after he had bounced over a kerb but it is not clear at this stage whether the two incidents are related.

Team principal Christian Horner said the problem "looked like" a driveshaft failure but the team would not know for sure until they had taken the car apart.

His one lap in the first session would have put him fourth on the grid, underlining his pace, and many will think he has a decent chance of winning the grand prix, despite his lowly starting position.

Image source, Getty Images

Sergio Perez claimed the front spot on the grid in Jeddah for the second year running with his first lap of the shootout yesterday, clocking a time that was just under 0.5secs quicker than Ferrari's Charles Leclerc.

A lock-up at Turn One on his second run gave Red Bull a nervy few moments but the Mexican had done enough to secure his second career pole position.

"It was tricky that Q3, especially not getting that second lap," said Perez.

"Q1 was quite good and clean, nailing that lap you really feel the Formula 1 cars coming alive in this place, maximising that lap was really important."

A podcast for you to enjoy as we build-up to race day in Saudi Arabia.

British racing driver Alice Powell and BBC Sport's chief F1 writer Andrew Benson join Jack Nicholls to reflect on qualifying from Jeddah.

The team hear from the top three drivers and ask what Max Verstappen can do starting from 15th on the grid.

Listen on BBC Sounds here

Image source, Formula 1 Twitter

Charles Leclerc carries a 10-place grid penalty for engine usage so the Ferrari driver's second place in qualifying now turns into 12th on the grid for Sunday's event.

The main headline from Saturday was Max Verstappen's power problem in Q2 which led the double world champion to abandon his session and any hope of securing back-to-back poles. The Dutchman will take his spot in grid box number 15.

Fernando Alonso moves from third to the front row in second and Mercedes' George Russell slips into the Aston Martin man's position in third.

Welcome in, folks. Happy Mother's Day to all the F1 mums following along with us today.

Today's race has all the ingredients to cook up a classic but will we be treated to a delicious battle? Or will a familiar podium be served up by the end of the 50-lap grand prix in Jeddah?

Lights out for round two of the 2023 season is at 17:00 GMT.

Full live commentary will be available on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, the BBC Sounds app and at the top of this page using the audio icon from 16:45 GMT.

Image source, Getty Images

Sergio Perez is leading the charge from the front.

Image source, Getty Images

World champion Max Verstappen has to line up in the thick of the midfield.

Image source, Getty Images

And Fernando Alonso?

He's waiting to pounce on a first victory since the likes of Kamui Kobayashi and Pastor Maldonado were still on the grid in 2012.

All aboard the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix express...