F1 Saudi Arabia GP 2024 LIVE: Qualifying results, times and ...
Christian Horner breaks silence after accuser suspended by Red Bull
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Formula 1 returned last weekend with the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix after a drama-filled off-season which saw Lewis Hamilton announce his departure from Mercedes and the scandal surrounding Red Bull team principal Christian Horner continue into overdrive.
As the Horner controversy rumbles on, F1 switched attention back to the track as Max Verstappen cruises to a first grand prix victory of the season in Bahrain.
The season-opener in Bahrain proved that Red Bull will once again be the team to beat with Verstappen targeting a fourth-straight drivers’ championship. Their closest rivals seem to be Ferrari, who Hamilton is joining for 2025, after Carlos Sainz sealed third place behind Red Bull’s Sergio Perez. Sainz is ill, however, and has been replaced by British 18-year-old Ollie Bearman on Friday.
Mercedes and McLaren were the next best of the rest, sealing positions fifth to eighth, while Aston Martin secured ninth and tenth for three championship points in a race where all 20 drivers finished. Will it happen twice in a row, though, ahead of this weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah?
Follow all the latest updates at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
F1 SAUDI ARABIAIN GRAND PRIX - QUALIFYING
Show latest updateWhat is the starting grid in Saudi?
1. Max Verstappen
2. Charles Leclerc
3. Sergio Perez
4. Fernando Alonso
5. Oscar Piastri
6. Lando Norris
7. George Russell
8. Lewis Hamilton
9. Yuki Tsunoda
10. Lance Stroll
11. Ollie Bearman
12. Alex Albon
13. Kevin Magnussen
14. Daniel Ricciardo
15. Nico Hulkenberg
16. Valtteri Bottas
17. Esteban Ocon
18. Pierre Gasly
19. Logan Sargeant
20. Zhou Guanyu
Kieran Jackson8 March 2024 19:19
What is the race schedule?
(All times GMT)
Saturday 9 March
How can I watch it online and on TV?
The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom - and ESPN in the United States. Sky’s coverage of the race starts at 3:30pm.
Highlights of qualifying in the UK will be aired on free-to-air Channel 4 at 8:30pm (GMT) on Friday; the race highlights are at 9:30pm (GMT) on Saturday.
Kieran Jackson8 March 2024 21:06
Ollie Bearman’s dad in interview!
Heartwarming stuff!
Kieran Jackson8 March 2024 19:30
Max Verstappen takes pole as Ferrari debutant Ollie Bearman impresses in Saudi Arabia
Teenager Ollie Bearman celebrated becoming the youngest British driver in Formula One history by qualifying 11th in his Ferrari for Saturday’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Bearman, 18 years and 10 months to the day, was thrown into the deepest of ends as a last-minute stand-in for Carlos Sainz, who was hospitalised with appendicitis.
But the Essex teenager, with just one hour of practice under his belt, and having never driven an F1 machine at night, came within 0.036 seconds of toppling Lewis Hamilton and progressing to Q3.
Max Verstappen put Red Bull’s continued off-track woes to one side by taking pole position, with Charles Leclerc second, three tenths back, and Sergio Perez third.
Fernando Alonso took fourth, with George Russell and Hamilton seventh and eighth respectively for Mercedes. Hamilton was nearly one second slower than Verstappen.
Kieran Jackson8 March 2024 19:05
Ollie Bearman’s dad reacts during qualifying:
Kieran Jackson8 March 2024 18:54
F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: Ollie Bearman...
“I woke up thinking about my F2 race. Chucked in the deep end for FP3 and qualifying. I wish Carlos the best, it was a fun opportunity.
“The track is evolving so much, the grip level is just incredible - after my first lap I was shocked! It’s a great feeling but takes some time to get used to.
“At the moment, not so proud! The racer in me knows that car was quick enough for Q3 - but in a couple of days I’ll look back on it.
“The goal was to do as many laps as possible, especially at night. I was close to the wall! Tried to get in as many laps as possible.”
Kieran Jackson8 March 2024 18:44
F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: TOP-10
1. Max Verstappen
2. Charles Leclerc
3. Sergio Perez
4. Fernando Alonso
5. Oscar Piastri
6. Lando Norris
7. George Russell
8. Lewis Hamilton
9. Yuki Tsunoda
10. Lance Stroll
Kieran Jackson8 March 2024 18:34
F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: Max Verstappen after his first pole in Saudi
“There have been crazy races around here, a lot of straights. I’m confident with the race-pace we have, the car will work really well around here.”
Kieran Jackson8 March 2024 18:24
F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: Charles Leclerc after qualifying P2
“In the second lap I put everything together - I’m really happy with the lap, shame we’re a bit further away than we thought.
“We did a step forward compared to last year, car is in a better place. We will try and optimise everything else for the race.
On Bearman: “I hope Carlos will recover quickly. On Ollie’s side, he’s done an incredible job - he was straight up to speed and comfortable with the car. Very special day, I hope tomorrow we both can have a great race.”
Kieran Jackson8 March 2024 18:17
F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: Sergio Perez after qualifying P3
“Didn’t get much of an improvement which is why we missed front row. Max has done a tremendous lap, that was not possible for me today. Tomorrow is a long race, anything can happen.”
Kieran Jackson8 March 2024 18:12