This light-bulb lit Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was blown open in qualifying when Max Verstappen pulled up with driveshaft failure. Pole was taken by his Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez, who was 1.55sec quicker than second quickest Charles Leclerc of Ferrari. The Mexican’s pole was the second of his career, his only other coming here a year ago. Leclerc will take a 10-place engine penalty for taking on a new electronic element in his engine. As Verstappen limped home to the pits, doomed for the lower-mid grid on Sunday, his father Jos removed his headphones and turned away dejectedly. Verstappen’s problems set in with what he called a ‘big moment’ eight minutes from the end of Q2. As for Alonso, he chases his first win since he won on home asphalt, in Barcelona, in 2013.

Follow MotorMouth on social media:

• 
• 
• 
•