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United States F1 qualifying LIVE: Saudi Arabian GP updates as Mick Schumacher crashes and Lewis Hamilton struggles
Max Verstappen drives during qualifying
(AFP via Getty Images)
Follow all the action as qualifying gets underway at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
After a four-hour meeting between drivers and officials late last night, following Yemen’s Houthi rebels claiming responsibility for a missile attack on an oil facility less than 10 miles from the circuit, it was decided that the race will still go ahead as planned. F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali insisted he had received “total assurances” from the Saudi government that there were no safety concerns, despite the black smoke that was clearly visible from the track yesterday after the refinery was hit.
Some drivers were said to still have concerns on Saturday morning, but they must now return their attention to the track after Charles Leclerc stormed to a somewhat surprising victory in a thrilling opening race in Bahrain last weekend as Ferrari proved their resurgent pace and Red Bull suffered a reliability nightmare. Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez were both forced to retire from the race with less than two laps to go, allowing Carlos Sainz to complete a Ferrari one-two. The Red Bull problems also presented something of a gift to Mercedes, who had struggled bitterly for pace all week but Lewis Hamilton and George Russell were able to snatch third and fourth place respectively.
Follow all the latest updates and lap times from qualifying below:
Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has also confirmed Mick Schumacher is thankfully okay after that crash.
Tom Kershaw26 March 2022 18:28
The Haas team have said that Mick Schumacher appears to be physically okay but that he will be taken to hospital for a scan as a precaution.
Tom Kershaw26 March 2022 18:19
Max Verstappen has got back into his Red Bull, suggesting a restart may not be too far away.
Tom Kershaw26 March 2022 18:14
The race director is out inspecting the track, where they’ve done their best to clear away all the debris.
Tom Kershaw26 March 2022 18:14
Hamilton was interviewed shortly after the crash and understandably was more focused on Schumacher’s condition. On his own failure to reach Q2 for the first time since 2017, the seven-time world champion says: “I just struggled with the balance of the car. Not where we want to be. Unfortunately went the wrong way with the set up.”
Tom Kershaw26 March 2022 18:00
The ambulance has arrived at the medical centre. We will bring you any more updates as they come in.
Tom Kershaw26 March 2022 17:59
They’re removing Schumacher’s Haas car from the track now. The rear end is so badly damaged that, as it was being hoisted in the air, the car splits almost completely in two behind the cockpit.
Tom Kershaw26 March 2022 17:57
Mick Schumacher has now been airlifted out of the car and is being taken away in an ambulance.
Tom Kershaw26 March 2022 17:53
There’s a lot of concern for Mick Schumacher, who has remained in the cockpit since the crash. There is an ambulance on the scene. Thankfully, the Sky broadcasting team say he is talking and fully conscious.
Tom Kershaw26 March 2022 17:49
The Haas driver crashed into the concrete barrier at Turn 10, where he’ll have been travelling at around 170mph. The car is badly damaged and there will be a lot of debris to clear.
Tom Kershaw26 March 2022 17:47
