F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix qualifying – Start time, how to watch, channel
The Jeddah Corniche Circuit is hosting its maiden Formula 1 race this weekend. Here's how you can watch qualifying for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Saturday.
Lewis Hamilton topped both practice sessions on Friday at a track that is expected to suit the Mercedes, but Red Bull title rival Max Verstappen was less than two tenths behind him in fourth.
Hamilton and Verstappen were separated by Valtteri Bottas in the other Mercedes and the lead AlphaTauri of Pierre Gasly.
What time does qualifying for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix start?
Qualifying for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix will begin at 20:00 local time (+3 GMT) at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on Saturday. The three-part session will last approximately one hour.
- Date: Saturday, December 04, 2021
- Start time: 20:00 local time / 17:00 GMT / 18:00 CET / 19:00 SAT / 20:00 EAT / 12:00 ET / 09:00 PT / 04:00 AEDT (Sunday) / 02:00 JST (Sunday) / 22:30 IST
Can’t find your country or region in the list? Check the schedule page for the broadcast times in your local timezone.
2021 Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix session timings in different timezones
| Session | GMT | CET | ET | PT | AEDT | JST | IST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FP1 | 13:30 | 14:30 | 08:30 | 05:30 | 00:30¹ | 22:30 | 19:00 |
| FP2 | 17:00 | 18:00 | 12:00 | 09:00 | 04:00¹ | 02:00¹ | 22:30 |
| FP3 | 14:00 | 15:00 | 09:00 | 06:00 | 01:00¹ | 23:00 | 19:30 |
| Qualifying | 17:00 | 18:00 | 12:00 | 09:00 | 04:00¹ | 02:00¹ | 22:30 |
| Race | 17:30 | 18:30 | 12:30 | 09:30 | 04:30¹ | 02:30¹ | 23:00 |
How can I watch qualifying?
Formula 1 is broadcast live in nearly every country around the world.
Europe:
- Austria - Servus TV / ORF
- Belgium - RTBF
- Denmark - TV3 / TV3 Sport / Viasat
- Finland - MTV
- France - Canal+
- Germany - Sky
- Hungary - M4
- Italy - Sky
- Netherlands - Ziggo
- Poland - Eleven Sports
- Portugal - Eleven Sports
- Spain - Movistar / DAZN
- Sweden - Viasat
- Switzerland - SRF / RSI / RTS
- UK - Sky Sports F1
Americas:
- USA - ESPNEWS
- Canada - RDS / TSN / Discovery Velocity
- Latin America - Fox Sports / ESPN
Asia:
- China - CCTV / Tencent / Guangdong TV
- India - Star Sports
- Japan - Fuji Television
- Russia - Match TV
- Turkey - S Sport
- Rest of Asia - Fox Sports
Oceania:
- Australia - Fox Sports / Network 10
- New Zealand - Spark Sports
Africa:
- Africa - SuperSport
Can I stream qualifying?
Viewers from selected countries can subscribe to F1 TV to stream qualifying on a device of their choice. Some local broadcasters such as Sky TV (UK), Movistar (Spain), Disney+ Hotstar (India) also offer their own on-demand service.
Live commentary
Motorsport.com will bring the latest updates from Jeddah throughout the weekend, including live commentary during qualifying on Saturday.
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - FP1 results:
| Cla | Driver | Chassis | Time | Gap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Lewis Hamilton |  | Mercedes | 1'29.786 | |
| 2 |  Max Verstappen |  | Red Bull | 1'29.842 | 0.056 |
| 3 |  Valtteri Bottas |  | Mercedes | 1'30.009 | 0.223 |
| 4 |  Pierre Gasly |  | AlphaTauri | 1'30.263 | 0.477 |
| 5 |  Antonio Giovinazzi |  | Alfa Romeo | 1'30.318 | 0.532 |
| 6 |  Carlos Sainz Jr. |  | Ferrari | 1'30.564 | 0.778 |
| 7 |  Charles Leclerc | | Ferrari | 1'30.600 | 0.814 |
| 8 |  Daniel Ricciardo |  | McLaren | 1'30.608 | 0.822 |
| 9 | Fernando Alonso |  | Alpine | 1'30.842 | 1.056 |
| 10 |  Sebastian Vettel |  | Aston Martin | 1'30.886 | 1.100 |
| 11 |  Sergio Perez |  | Red Bull | 1'30.960 | 1.174 |
| 12 | Esteban Ocon |  | Alpine | 1'31.023 | 1.237 |
| 13 | Lando Norris |  | McLaren | 1'31.029 | 1.243 |
| 14 |  Lance Stroll |  | Aston Martin | 1'31.044 | 1.258 |
| 15 |  Yuki Tsunoda |  | AlphaTauri | 1'31.099 | 1.313 |
| 16 | Kimi Raikkonen |  | Alfa Romeo | 1'31.296 | 1.510 |
| 17 | George Russell |  | Williams | 1'31.343 | 1.557 |
| 18 | Mick Schumacher |  | Haas | 1'31.525 | 1.739 |
| 19 | Nicholas Latifi |  | Williams | 1'31.821 | 2.035 |
| 20 |  Nikita Mazepin |  | Haas | 1'33.464 | 3.678 |
| View full results | |||||
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - FP2 results:
| Cla | Driver | Chassis | Time | Gap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lewis Hamilton | | Mercedes | 1'29.018 | |
| 2 | Valtteri Bottas |  | Mercedes | 1'29.079 | 0.061 |
| 3 | Pierre Gasly |  | AlphaTauri | 1'29.099 | 0.081 |
| 4 | Max Verstappen | | Red Bull | 1'29.213 | 0.195 |
| 5 | Fernando Alonso |  | Alpine | 1'29.441 | 0.423 |
| 6 | Esteban Ocon | | Alpine | 1'29.555 | 0.537 |
| 7 | Carlos Sainz Jr. |  | Ferrari | 1'29.589 | 0.571 |
| 8 | Yuki Tsunoda |  | AlphaTauri | 1'29.597 | 0.579 |
| 9 | Sergio Perez |  | Red Bull | 1'29.768 | 0.750 |
| 10 | Charles Leclerc |  | Ferrari | 1'29.772 | 0.754 |
| 11 | Daniel Ricciardo |  | McLaren | 1'29.968 | 0.950 |
| 12 | Lando Norris |  | McLaren | 1'30.004 | 0.986 |
| 13 | Antonio Giovinazzi |  | Alfa Romeo | 1'30.110 | 1.092 |
| 14 | Kimi Raikkonen | | Alfa Romeo | 1'30.276 | 1.258 |
| 15 | Lance Stroll |  | Aston Martin | 1'30.442 | 1.424 |
| 16 | Sebastian Vettel |  | Aston Martin | 1'30.502 | 1.484 |
| 17 | George Russell | | Williams | 1'30.506 | 1.488 |
| 18 | Mick Schumacher |  | Haas | 1'30.652 | 1.634 |
| 19 | Nicholas Latifi |  | Williams | 1'31.039 | 2.021 |
| 20 | Nikita Mazepin |  | Haas | 1'31.629 | 2.611 |
| View full results | |||||
Related video
The factors that could negate Red Bull's practice gap to Mercedes
Saudi GP: Latest F1 technical images on display
The “glorified taxi” driver central to F1’s continued safety push
As the driver of Formula 1’s medical car, Alan van der Merwe’s job is to wait – and hope his skills aren’t needed. James Newbold hears from F1’s lesser-known stalwart.
When BMW added F1 'rocket fuel' to ignite Brabham's 1983 title push
There was an ace up the sleeve during the 1983 F1 title-winning season of Nelson Piquet and Brabham. It made a frontrunning car invincible for the last three races to see off Renault's Alain Prost and secure the combination's second world title in three years
How “abysmal” reliability blunted Brabham’s first winner
Brabham’s first world championship race-winning car was held back by unreliable Climax engines – or so its creators believed, as STUART CODLING explains
The steps Norris took to reach a new level in the 2021 F1 season
Lando Norris came of age as a grand prix driver in 2021. McLaren’s young ace is no longer an apprentice or a quietly capable number two – he’s proved himself a potential winner in the top flight and, as Stuart Codling finds out, he’s ready to stake his claim to greatness…
How Fangio set the bar for Schumacher and Hamilton in F1
Juan Manuel Fangio, peerless on track and charming off it, established the gold standard of grand prix greatness. Nigel Roebuck recalls a remarkable champion.
How Russell sees his place in the Mercedes-Hamilton F1 superteam
George Russell joining Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes this year gives it arguably the best line-up in Formula 1 – if it can avoid too many fireworks. After serving his apprenticeship at Williams, Russell is the man that Mercedes team believes can lead it in the post-Hamilton era, but how will he fare against the seven-time champion? Motorsport.com heard from the man himself
How F1 pulled off its second pandemic season and its 2022 implications
OPINION: The Formula 1 season just gone was the second to be completed under the dreaded shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic, but in many ways it was much more ‘normal’ than 2020. Here’s the story of how the championship’s various organisers delivered a second challenging campaign, which offers a glimpse at what may be different next time around
The adapt or die mentality that will shape F1's future
As attitudes towards the motor car and what powers it change, Formula 1 must adapt its offering. Mark Gallagher ponders the end of fossil fuels