How qualifying for the F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix unfolded

The Ferraris are on better laps.

Current order: Verstappen, Perez, Alonso, Stroll, Hamilton, Norris, Piastri, Gasly, Russell and Sainz.

A slow lap from Leclerc puts him 10th just ahead of Zhou.

This time it's a 1m28.485s, 0.6s ahead of Perez.

Lando Norris' lap is impeded as he is accidentally blocked by Max Verstappen 

The Dutchman speeds up to apologise to the McLaren driver shortly after #SaudiArabianGP#F1pic.twitter.com/LG2OpTGeKc

— Formula 1 (@F1) March 18, 2023

Nothing can stop the Dutchman.

It's a 1m28.660s now - 0.4s clear of Perez.

More from Wolff here

It's a 1m28.756s for Verstappen, 0.371s ahead of Perez.

He sets a 1m29.127s to extend his advantage at the top.

Let's see what he can do. Could be scary for the rest.

He goes fourth in the Mercedes on the softs, 0.4s off.

Gasly improves to a 1m29.701s, just 0.2s off Verstappen.

"I've lost the first shift."

The usual mid-session lull now as teams return to the pit lane before fitting some new tyres.

Perez, Verstappen, Gasly, Ocon, Russell, Albon, Hamilton, Leclerc, Sainz and Norris.

Perez is 0.3s quicker than Verstappen.

One key difference is that Perez is on the softs; Verstappen on the hards.

Verstappen, Gasly, Hamilton, Russell, Ocon, Leclerc, Albon, Piastri, Bottas and Sainz.

It's a 1m30.161s for the Frenchman, 0.3s ahead of Russell. Tidy lap from the Alpine.

Russell takes P1 with a 1m30.476s, less than tenth ahead of Hamilton.

Verstappen goes fourth, 0.2s off on the hards.

Only Piastri has set a time so far - a 1m32.531s.

unfortunately, we’ve detected an issue on @nyckdevries’ car and we are now changing his PU.

as a result, he won’t be participating in FP3 pic.twitter.com/dJ8Rr7kvIs

— Scuderia AlphaTauri (@AlphaTauriF1) March 18, 2023

Alonso and Stroll break the silence - the only two cars out on track.

Read our practice report...