Old-fashioned spectacle
Fans of old-fashioned racing pleasure were treated to a true spectacle with the Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia. In a blistering final phase, Max Verstappen stamped past Charles Leclerc, which gave the Dutch driver a place on the highest step of the podium.
The Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia rewarded the spectator with true visual gems. Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon fought each other out of the Alpine tent and the second half of the race on the Jeddah street circuit in particular was characterized by several failures. Nicholas Latifi, Daniel Ricciardo, Fernando Alonso and Valtteri Bottas also failed to reach the finish line. Yuki Tsunoda’s Alpha Tauri did not appear on track due to problems with the cooling system and Mick Schumacher did not participate in the race after a serious crash – with good ending – during qualifying the day before.
Max Verstappen (Red Bull) duels with Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
Max Verstappen has more than made up for the ailing start to Red Bull’s Formula 1 season – which was ravaged by cancellations last week – by winning the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Not least because of the racing spectacle that resulted in the battle between the reigning world champion and the Monegasque Cherles Leclerc. In the final laps of the exciting race, especially in the second half, the two drivers clashed with each other. Leclerc managed to repel several attacks from Verstappen, but had to give in to the combination of the Dutchman’s driving qualities and the higher top speed of his Red Bull four laps before the end. Leclerc finished in second position, followed by teammate Sainz.
While Red Bull is undoubtedly very pleased with the end result, Max’s teammate Perez is less so. The Mexican Red Bull driver started from first position after a very nice qualifying, but eventually finished in fourth place. Shortly after Perez ducked into the pit lane for a tire change on lap 15, double yellow flags flew due to a crash by Nicholas Latifi that saw the Mexican tear-nose say goodbye to a chance at victory. Mercedes-Benz was once again no match for Red Bull and Ferrari. Although the promising George Russell with his Benz finished in fifth place behind Sergio Perez, multiple world champion Lewis Hamilton had to make do with tenth place.
Race result:
- Verstappen (Red Bull)
- Leclerc (Ferrari)
- Sainz (Ferrari)
- Perez (Red Bull)
- Russell (Mercedes Benz)
- Ocon (Alpine)
- Norris (McLaren)
- Gasly (Alpha Tauri)
- Magnussen (Hare)
- Hamilton (Mercedes Benz)
- Guanyu (Alfa Romeo)
- Hulkenberg (Aston Martin)
- Stroll (Aston Martin)
- Albon (Williams)
- Bottas (Alfa Romeo) – DNF
- Alonso (Alpine) – DNF
- Ricciardo (McLaren) – DNF
- Latifi (Williams) – DNF
- Tsunoda (Alpha Tauri) – not started
- Mick Schumacher (Haas) – did not start
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl