Formula 1: Perez takes pole – brutal crash by Schumacher overshadows qualifying

Created: 03/27/2022, 06:10

By: Christoph Gschoßmann, Felix Durach

The doctors speak to Mick Schumacher after his crash in qualifying in Saudi Arabia.

© ANTONIN VINCENT/imago-images

Qualifying in Saudi Arabia is overshadowed by a brutal crash by Mick Schumacher.

The live ticker.

Update from March 26, 8:12 p.m.:

With this we end our ticker from qualifying in Saudi Arabia.

Q3:

Red Bull is crowned the winner of this qualifying after all and Sergio Perez starts the second race of the season from position 1.

However, qualifying was overshadowed by Mick Schumacher's brutal crash.

Although the German was responsive after his accident and had no obvious injuries, he was flown to the hospital anyway.

Formula 1 in Saudi Arabia: Perez secures pole - Leclerc and Sainz follow

Q3

: Leclerc launches another attack on his teammate and wants to secure pole.

And that works.

The Monegasse moves to pole.

But then there are the two Red Bulls.

Verstappen misses the top time and finishes fourth.

But Sergio Perez really knocked it out and put the top time on the asphalt.

The Mexican pushes past Leclerc in the last few seconds and secures pole position for tomorrow.

Leclerc (Ferrari) and Sainz (Ferrari) finished second and third.

The starting line-up is completed by Ocon (Alpine), Russell (Mercedes), Alonso (Alpine), Bottas (Alfa Romeo), Gasly (AlphaTauri) and Magnussen (Haas).

Q3:

Three minutes left and looking strong for two Ferraris on the front row.

Can the Red Bulls get involved again?

Q3

: What is Verstappen doing?

The world champion is still having problems and is only in sixth place.

Meanwhile, his team-mate Sergio Perez holds third place behind the two Ferraris.

Q3:

Even if the frightening images of Mick Schumacher are certainly still in the back of the drivers' minds, the ten remaining drivers are now concentrating on the fight for pole position.

The best time is currently with Carlos Sainz in the Ferrari.

Q3:

Remarkable success again for Kevin Magnussen in Haas, who also reaches Q3 in the second qualifying of the season.

Q2:

The remaining 14 pilots continue.

Schumacher was still in ninth place at the moment of his crash, but is now being pushed out of the top 10.

The German is out, as are Stroll (Aston Martin), Zhou (Alfa Romeo), Riccardo (McLaren) and Norris (McLaren).

Formula 1 in Saudi Arabia: TV pictures show Schumacher – qualifying continues

Q2:

Qualifying resumes at 7:40 p.m.

The race director just announced that.

Q2:

The TV images now show Mick Schumacher lying on the stretcher before being loaded into the helicopter.

The 23-year-old speaks to the doctors and gestures with his arm.

Also a good sign.

Q2:

"Mick is fully conscious.

He spoke to his mother," confirms Haas team boss Günther Steiner on the microphone at Sky.

He had "no obvious injuries" and would now be flown to the hospital for "check-ups".

Formula 1 in Saudi Arabia: Schumacher is flown to the hospital after a brutal crash

Q2:

Mick Schumacher is now being taken to the hospital by helicopter and is to be examined further there.

Q2:

Good news from the Medical Center.

As the Haas team reports, Mick Schumacher is doing well given the circumstances.

The 23-year-old has already called his mother Corinna.

Q2:

How the accident happened.

Schumacher slightly lost control of his Haas entering the curve and was thus pushed far out onto the curbs.

Due to the high speed, the Haas lost traction when driving over the curbs and hit the opposite barrier with its side ahead almost without braking.

However, Schumacher only came to a stop at the opposite barrier.

Mick Schumacher's destroyed Haas after his crash during qualifying for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

© ANTONIN VINCENT/imago-images

Q2:

However, it is a good sign that Schumacher was taken to the medical center and not flown straight to the hospital as is usual with serious injuries.

However, more detailed information about the Schumachers is still missing.

Formula 1 in Saudi Arabia: Hard crash in qualifying - Schumacher in the ambulance

Q2:

The Haas team confirms that Schumacher is responsive and is currently on his way to the hospital.

Meanwhile, the marshals are busy cleaning up the route.

Schumacher's Haas broke in two after the impact and is now being recovered with a crane.

Q2:

An ambulance is now also on the route.

However, Schumacher seems to be responsive.

The German was driving at a speed of over 250 km/h in his accident and hit the gang with corresponding hardness.

The Haas was completely demolished.

With a view to Schumacher's condition, however, it is more of a minor matter.

Q2:

There is still no information on Schumacher's health.

The Haas pilot is still in his car.

The medical car is now at the scene of the accident.

Formula 1 in Saudi Arabia: qualifying in the live ticker – hard crash by Schumacher

Q2:

The next crash and the next red flag.

Now it has caught Mick Schumacher.

The German loses control of his Haas at high speed and hits the gang hard.

Q2:

Leclerc's new best time.

Sergio Perez in the Red Bull moves up to second place.

What was already hinted at before qualifying is now clearly evident.

The pole will be decided between Ferrari and Red Bull today.

Q2:

Continue with Q2.

Q1:

After Q1, Carlos Sainz in the Ferrari was in first place ahead of world champion Max Verstappen in the Red Bull. Charles Leclerc is in third place.

In addition to Hamilton, Albon (Williams), Hülkenberg (Aston Martin), Latifi (Williams) and Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) also had to say goodbye to qualifying.

Formula 1 in Saudi Arabia: qualifying in the live ticker – only 16th place for Hamilton

Q1:

This is a small sensation: Lewis Hamilton is 16th after Q1 and is therefore eliminated from qualifying.

The Brit will therefore have to start tomorrow's race from 16th place.

What is interesting, however, is the placement of Hamilton's teammates.

George Russell put the fourth best time on the tarmac.

Q1: Things

are getting serious in Q1.

Also for Mick Schumacher.

The Haas driver is fighting for a place in Q2 and still has one lap in his quiver.

And that seems to be enough.

The German moves up to 11th place. Meanwhile, there are major problems for Hamilton, who complains to his team about the lack of communication via radio.

The Briton has to put everything on one last lap so that it doesn't end in Q1.

Formula 1: qualifying in Saudi Arabia in the live ticker – Ferrari flexes its muscles

Q1:

The Ferraris are now flexing their muscles for the first time.

Leclerc takes 3 tenths from Verstappen and takes the lead.

Sainz is almost two tenths faster than his teammate and immediately takes the lead away from him.

Q1:

Technical issues at Tsunoda.

The Japanese is brought into the pits by his team and could therefore no longer have a chance of qualifying for Q2.

Meanwhile, Verstappen sets the first scent mark and takes the lead.

Q1:

The route is free again and we can continue.

Q1:

The clock in Q1 is thus stopped at 11.22 minutes remaining time.

When the track is free again, you can continue.

The two Haas are currently leading the field.

Magnussen in 1st place ahead of his teammate Mick Schumacher.

Formula 1: qualifying in the live ticker – red flag after a hard crash

Q1: Red flag.

Qualifying is suspended.

Nicholas Latifi loses his tail when entering the corner and spins into the gang at high speed.

The Williams driver radioed, audibly shocked, but appeared to be largely unhurt and was able to get out on his own.

Q1:

Slight problems at Hamilton.

The record world champion has to fight hard on his first lap in the corners.

George Russell is currently in fifth place.

Q1:

The two Ferraris are now on the track as well.

If you want to start from pole position on Sunday, you have to get past Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc.

Q1:

The traffic lights go out and the second qualifying session of the season begins.

Formula 1 in Saudi Arabia: qualifying in the live ticker - concerns at Mercedes

Update from March 26, 5:55 p.m .:

The view of Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, who has to fear for a top placement of his protégés, should currently be worrying.

In the third practice session on Saturday afternoon, Lewis Hamilton only ended up in eleventh place.

Mercedes rookie George Russell had to settle for 14th place.

Can the Mercedes drivers go one step further in qualifying?

Update from March 26, 5:50 p.m .:

“The show must go on”, it is also said in Formula 1 and despite the attack on an oil well by the Saudi oil company Aramco near the race track on Friday, the pilots will be in a few minutes in qualifying for pole position for Sunday's race.

All eyes will then be on Bahrain winner Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari.

Formula 1 in Saudi Arabia: Despite the attack on Friday, the pilots are chasing poles on Saturday

First report from March 26th:

Jeddah – Formula 1* plays with fire: The dark clouds of smoke were still rising in the sky over Jeddah when world championship leader Charles Leclerc from the Ferrari team* trotted into the paddock after a short night.

Despite an attack by Yemeni rebels within sight and smell of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, the second race of the season is scheduled to take place on Sunday (7 p.m. CEST/Sky) as planned.

This was announced by Formula 1 and the World Automobile Association FIA.

The decision was made late: the pilots, who had apparently also been discussing a boycott late into the night, are grudgingly taking part in the show.

In a statement, the drivers' association GPDA described Friday as "a difficult day for Formula 1 and a stressful one for Formula 1 drivers".

Formula 1 in Saudi Arabia: difficult to concentrate on the GP

With the cloud of smoke in front of your eyes, it was difficult to stay fully focused on racing on the dangerous high-speed track, explained the drivers around world champion Max Verstappen and record champion Lewis Hamilton.

That's why we exchanged ideas until late at night.

A “many number of options” were discussed, as the saying goes.

Drivers continued to express their hope that the Grand Prix would be remembered for a "good race" and not for Friday's incident.

However, that might be difficult.

Only after Saudi Arabian government officials had declared that security measures would be "raised to the maximum" did the pilots decide to get into the car as planned.

Formula 1: Yemeni Houthi rebels attack refinery within sight of GP

Yemeni Houthi rebels had attacked an oil refinery within sight of the course on Friday afternoon.

During the first free practice, a large cloud of smoke was suddenly seen after an explosion, and there was a smell of burned oil.

The second training session started a quarter of an hour late, and the following media events were all cancelled.

The Sky moderator team around ex-driver Ralf Schumacher has already left.

A marathon of talks began between Formula 1, the FIA, the team bosses, the drivers and the Saudi side.

Ultimately, this ended with the decision for the GP.