The Latest Breaking News from Fernando Alonso

Verstappen started 15th but was up to second by the mid-way point in the race, helped by a controversial safety car, while Lewis Hamilton and George Russell finished fourth and fifth ahead of the Ferraris

Sergio Pérez converted pole into victory in Jeddah as Max Verstappen raced up from 15th to second

Fernando Alonso will start second on the grid for Sunday's Saudi Arabia Grand Prix as Aston Martin continue to provide the surprise package in the early season rounds

Aston Martin was the surprise package of the Bahrain Grand Prix earlier this month, with Alonso taking a podium on his first race with the Silverstone team.

The Dutchman starts down in 15th on the grid in Jeddah after a driveshaft failure in Q2 meant he failed to make it through to the final qualifying shootout.

The runaway winner in Bahrain a fortnight previously had taken a clean sweep across the practice sessions, ending the three hours of running with a cumulative advantage of 1.3s.

Red Bull's Sergio Perez will line up on pole position after topping Saturday's qualifying session in Jeddah. He will be joined on the front row by Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso, with George Russell (Mercedes) and Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) next up in third and fourth position respectively.

Australian Formula One rookie Oscar Piastri has had his best day yet for McLaren, finishing ninth in qualifying for the Saudi Grand Prix.

In a dramatic qualifying on the Jeddah street track, Perez grabbed his second career F1 pole position, 12 months on from his maiden pole which came at the same circuit.

The double world champion set the third fastest time in qualifying, 0.465 seconds away from Perez's ultimate pace, but will move up to the front row on the grid as Charles Leclerc will cop at least a 10-place grid penalty for taking on new control electronics.

The double world champion set the third fastest time in qualifying, 0.465 seconds away from Perez's ultimate pace, but will move up to the front row on the grid as Charles Leclerc will cop at least a 10-place grid penalty for taking on new control electronics.