Max Verstappen bounced back from his Bahrain disappointment to pull off a thrilling victory in Sunday’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Photo: Twitter @redbullracing
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: FINAL results after driver penalties
Max Verstappen bounced back from his Bahrain disappointment to pull off a thrilling victory in Sunday’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen bounced back from his Bahrain disappointment to pull off a thrilling victory in Sunday’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Photo: Twitter @redbullracing
Defending world champion Max Verstappen bounced back from his Bahrain disappointment to drive his Red Bull to a thrilling victory ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in Sunday’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
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The 24-year-old Dutchman, who failed to finish due to a fuel problem in the opening race, won by just half a second after the pair swapped positions in a tense battle through the final laps.
It was the closest race finish since the 2020 Italian Grand Prix.
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Leclerc’s Ferrari team-mate Carlos Sainz finished third ahead of Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull, the top four proving to be in a class of their own.
Mercedes new boy George Russell came home fifth ahead of Alpine’s Esteban Ocon and McLaren’s Lando Norris with Pierre Gasly taking eighth for AlphaTauri.
Kevin Magnussen finished ninth for Haas and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton 10th, rescuing some pride after starting 15th on a difficult weekend in the second Mercedes.
A number of drivers were summoned to see the stewards post-race for failing to slow down under waved yellow fags, but reportedly no penalties were handed out.
Results of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the second round of the Formula One world championship, in Jeddah on Sunday:
1. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) 1hr 24min 19.293sec, 2. Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) at 0.549sec, 3. Carlos Sainz (ESP/Ferrari) 8.097, 4. Sergio Perez (MEX/Red Bull) 10.800, 5. George Russell (GBR/Mercedes) 32.732, 6. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine-Renault) 56.017, 7. Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes) 56.124, 8. Pierre Gasly (FRA/AlphaTauri-Red Bull) 1:02.946, 9. Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas-Ferrari) 1:04.308, 10. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1:13.948, 11. Zhou Guanyu (CHN/Alfa Romeo-Ferrari) 1:22.215, 12. Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Aston Martin-Mercedes) 1:31.742, 13. Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin-Mercedes) 1 lap, 14. Alex Albon (THA/Williams-Mercedes) DNF
Fastest lap: Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) 1:31.634
Retired:
Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/AlphaTauri-Red Bull), Nicholas Latifi (CAN/Williams-Mercedes), Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/McLaren-Mercedes), Fernando Alonso (ESP/Alpine-Renault), Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Alfa Romeo-Ferrari)
World championship standings
Drivers
1. Charles Leclerc (MON) 45 points, 2. Carlos Sainz (ESP) 33, 3. Max Verstappen (NED) 25, 4. George Russell (GBR) 22, 5. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) 16, 6. Esteban Ocon (FRA) 14, 7. Sergio Pérez (MEX) 12, 8. Kevin Magnussen (DEN) 12, 9. Valtteri Bottas (FIN) 8, 10. Lando Norris (GBR) 6, 11. Yuki Tsunoda (JPN) 4, 12. Pierre Gasly (FRA) 4, 13. Fernando Alonso (ESP) 2, 14. Zhou Guanyu (CHN) 1, 15. Mick Schumacher (GER) 0, 16. Lance Stroll (CAN) 0, 17. Nico Hülkenberg (GER) 0, 18. Alex Albon (THA) 0, 19. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) 0, 20. Nicholas Latifi (CAN) 0
Constructors
1. Ferrari 78 points, 2. Mercedes 38, 3. Red Bull 37, 4. Alpine-Renault 16, 5. Haas-Ferrari 12, 6. Alfa Romeo-Ferrari 9, 7. AlphaTauri-Red Bull 8, 8. McLaren-Mercedes 6, 9. Aston Martin-Mercedes 0, 10. Williams-Mercedes 0
