The Red Bull driver notched up his second pole of the season in dramatic circumstances, when his first Q3 effort was enough to take top spot as his rivals faltered before Charles Leclerc crashed late on and caused a red flag to prematurely end the session.
With all drivers in the top 10 shootout unable to complete their respective final laps, the order was effectively set after the first runs, to see Perez take pole ahead of Fernando Alonso for Aston Martin – a repeat of the front row from the Saudi Arabian GP.
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz was another to profit from the red flag caused by his team-mate with third place, ahead of Kevin Magnussen for Haas who was another surprise result with fourth place.
With Alpine’s Pierre Gasly fifth and George Russell in sixth for Mercedes, Leclerc’s second crash of the weekend left him seventh on the starting grid for Ferrari.
Max Verstappen was the biggest loser in the red flag, having bailed out of his opening Q3 effort after running wide, leaving him without a lap time and he will start ninth behind the Alpine of Esteban Ocon in eighth. Valtteri Bottas was also denied a shot at a lap in Q3 and will start 10th for Alfa Romeo.
Earlier in qualifying, Lewis Hamilton was the shock name to exit Q2 down in 13th place for Mercedes, with Lance Stroll the high-profile dropout in Q1 for Aston Martin who will start 18th.
Source: Autosport