Some things are worth the wait.
For the first time in 215 races, Red Bull's Sergio "Checo" Perez has pole position entering Sunday's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. He held off both Ferrari cars in a dazzling lap on Saturday:
SERGIO PEREZ IS ON POLE FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME!!!!
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 26, 2022
What a sensational lap by the @redbullracing driver 💪
Well done @SChecoPerez! 🥳#SaudiArabianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/kcQ51ErSJs
MORE: Watch Formula 1 live with fuboTV (Free trial)
It was a messy day of qualifying. Nicholas Latifi hit the wall in Q1, while Mick Schumacher had a devastating crash of his own in Q2. While Latifi walked away under his own power, Schumacher had to be air lifted to a local medical center. He was conscious and speaking with medical officials following the crash.
Maybe the biggest story of Saturday was who didn't make it to Q2. Lewis Hamilton finished with the 16th-best time, the first time he was knocked out in Q1 since 2017. Mercedes teammate George Russell finished sixth.
Here's how they'll line up in Saudi Arabia on Sunday:
Formula 1 starting lineup for 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Sergio Perez sits on pole. Both Ferrari cars came within hundredths of a second for second and third.
Lewis Hamilton will start from 16th position.
| Grid Position | Driver | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Sergio Perez | Red Bull |
| 2. | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari |
| 3. | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari |
| 4. | Max Verstappen | Red Bull |
| 5. | Esteban Ocon | Alpine |
| 6. | George Russell | Mercedes |
| 7. | Fernando Alonso | Alpine |
| 8. | Valtteri Bottas | Alfa Romeo |
| 9. | Pierre Gasly | AlphaTauri |
| 10. | Kevin Magnussen | Haas |
| 11. | Lando Norris | McLaren |
| 12. | Daniel Ricciardo | McLaren |
| 13. | Zhou Guanyu | Alfa Romeo |
| 14. | Mick Schumacher | Haas |
| 15. | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin |
| 16. | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes |
| 17. | Alex Albon | Williams |
| 18. | Nico Hulkenberg | Aston Martin |
| 19. | Nicholas Latifi | Williams |
| DNQ | Yuki Tsunoda | AlphaTauri |
What channel is the F1 race on today?
- Race: Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
- Date: Sunday, March 27
- TV channel: ESPN
- Live stream: fuboTV/ESPN+
The ESPN family of networks will broadcast all 2022 F1 races in the United States using Sky Sports' feed, with select races airing on ABC throughout the season.
ESPN Deportes serves as the exclusive Spanish-language home for all 2022 F1 races in the U.S.
What time does the F1 race start today?
- Date: Sunday, March 27
- Start time: 1 p.m. ET
The 1 p.m. ET start time for Sunday's race means the 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix will start at 8 p.m. local time. Lights out will likely take place just after 1 p.m. ET. ESPN's pre-race show usually airs in the hour before the start of the race.
Below is the complete TV schedule for the weekend's F1 events at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
| Date | Event | Time (ET) | TV channel |
| Friday, March 25 | Practice 1 | 10 a.m. | ESPN2 |
| Friday, March 25 | Practice 2 | 1 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Saturday, March 26 | Practice 3 | 10 a.m. | ESPN2 |
| Saturday, March 26 | Qualifying | 1 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Sunday, March 27 | Race | 1 p.m. | ESPN |
Formula 1 live stream for Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
For those who don't have a cable or satellite subscription, there are five major OTT TV streaming options that carry ESPN — fuboTV, Sling, Hulu, YouTubeTV and AT&T Now. Of the five, Hulu, fuboTV and YouTubeTV offer free-trial options.
Below are links to each.
- fuboTV (free trial)
- Sling TV
- Hulu (free trial)
- YouTubeTV (free trial)
- AT&T Now
For those who do have a cable or satellite subscription but are not in front of a TV, Formula 1 races in 2021 can be streamed live via phones, tablets and other devices on the ESPN app with authentication.
Formula 1 2022 schedule
In total, there are 22 scheduled events on the F1 docket for 2022, one race shy of tying the mark for longest F1 calendar.
The season starts in Bahrain on March 20 and ends with its customary Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, although a bit earlier than usual, in November. If the schedule stands, this will be the earliest end of the Formula 1 season since it ended on Nov. 4 in 2013.
Returning to the 2022 F1 slate are the Canadian and Japanese Grand Prix, both of which were canceled in 2021 amidst fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.
The calendar also holds the maiden voyage for the Miami Grand Prix, the first of two races in the United States in 2022, with the customary United States GP taking place in October.
The Russian Grand Prix, originally scheduled for Sept. 25, was canceled because of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Here's the latest schedule (subject to change):
| Date | Race | Track | Start time (ET) | TV channel | Winner (Team) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 20 | Bahrain Grand Prix | Bahrain International Circuit | 11 a.m. | ESPN | Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) |
| March 27 | Saudi Arabian Grand Prix | Jeddah Street Circuit | 1 p.m. | ESPN | TBD |
| April 10 | Australian Grand Prix | Albert Park Circuit | 1 a.m. | ESPN | TBD |
| April 24 | Emilia Romagna Grand Prix | Imola Circuit | 9 a.m. | ESPN | TBD |
| May 8 | Miami Grand Prix | Miami International Autodrome | 2:30 p.m. | TBD | TBD |
| May 22 | Spanish Grand Prix | Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya | 9 a.m. | TBD | TBD |
| May 29 | Monaco Grand Prix | Circuit de Monaco | 9 a.m. | TBD | TBD |
| June 12 | Azerbaijan Grand Prix | Baku City Circuit | 7 a.m. | TBD | TBD |
| June 19 | Canadian Grand Prix | Circuit Gillies-Villeneuve | 2 p.m. | TBD | TBD |
| July 3 | British Grand Prix | Silverstone Circuit | 10 a.m. | TBD | TBD |
| July 10 | Austrian Grand Prix | Red Bull Ring | 9 a.m. | TBD | TBD |
| July 24 | French Grand Prix | Circuit Paul Ricard | 9 a.m. | TBD | TBD |
| July 31 | Hungarian Grand Prix | Hungaroring | 9 a.m. | TBD | TBD |
| Aug. 28 | Belgian Grand Prix | Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps | 9 a.m. | TBD | TBD |
| Sept. 4 | Dutch Grand Prix | Circuit Zandvoort | 9 a.m. | TBD | TBD |
| Sept. 11 | Italian Grand Prix | Autodromo Nazionale Monza | 9 a.m. | TBD | TBD |
| Oct. 2 | Singapore Grand Prix | Marina Bay Street Circuit | 8 a.m. | TBD | TBD |
| Oct. 9 | Japanese Grand Prix | Suzuka International Racing Course | 1 a.m. | TBD | TBD |
| Oct. 23 | United States Grand Prix | Circuit of the Americas | 3 p.m. | TBD | TBD |
| Oct. 30 | Mexico City Grand Prix | Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez | 4 p.m. | TBD | TBD |
| Nov. 13 | Sao Paulo Grand Prix | Interlagos Circuit | 2 p.m. | TBD | TBD |
| Nov. 20 | Abu Dhabi Grand Prix | Yas Marina Circuit | 8 a.m. | TBD | TBD |
How to watch Formula 1 in Canada
- TV channel: TSN (English); RDS (French)
- Live stream: TSN Direct
For fans in Canada, TSN will carry the English telecast of races. For those looking for the French broadcast, RDS will have you covered.
Races can also be streamed via TSN's streaming service, TSN Direct.
How to watch Formula 1 in the United Kingdom
- TV channel: Sky Sports F1
- Live stream: NOW TV
Viewers located in the United Kingdom can catch all F1 action on Sky Sports F1, the dedicated F1 channel. For viewers planning to live stream F1 in 2022, you can purchase a Sky Sports Pass on NOW TV.
How to watch Formula 1 in Australia
- TV channel: Fox Sports; Channel 10
- Live stream: Kayo
Fox Sports will carry all races in Australia, with Channel 10 broadcasting the Australian GP on Channel 10.