Half a second, full drama!

Red Bull’s Verstappen wins one of the closest F1 races against Ferrari’s Leclerc at Saudi Arabian GP; drivers hail new era of cars that permit closer racing and help recovery even after being overtaken

World champion Max Verstappen bounced back from his Bahrain disappointment to steer his Red Bull to a thrilling victory ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in Sunday’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The Dutchman, 24, 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 GP.

Ferrari’s Sainz is third

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Leclerc’s Ferrari teammate 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.

It was the 21st win of his career for Verstappen and, like Leclerc, he welcomed the success of the new era cars that have permitted closer racing and allowed drivers to recover and regain positions after being passed. Leclerc congratulated his rival on his victory on their slow-down laps, but after two races remains the embryonic championship’s early season leader by 12 points. “Of course, I am disappointed, but I enjoyed that race and I hope that we have more like that this season. It should be like this always.”

Verstappen said it was very close, but he also revelled in the contest: “I just managed to get in front and to stay there, but it was a great race.” Perez made a perfect start from his first pole position at the 215th attempt as behind him Leclerc’s move behind the Mexican only served to block his Ferrari teammate Sainz and gift Verstappen a free pass to third. 

Only 18 cars on grid

After a hot day, the temperature was 26 degrees Celsius when the lights went out with a reduced grid of 18 cars. By lap 30, Leclerc’s Ferrari led by 1.6 seconds, leaving Sainz 5.2 seconds behind in third and Perez fourth. With 12 laps remaining, the hot conditions took its toll with a rash of retirements led by Fernando Alonso’s Alpine, Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren) and  Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo). This left 14 cars when the race continued on lap 41. Hamilton promptly pitted for new medium tyres, but rejoined 12th to begin another final charge as Verstappen fought Leclerc for the race lead. The Dutchman passed him at the final corner on lap 42, only for Leclerc to respond. On lap 43, he tried again, but Leclerc hung on. Verstappen continued pressing, dummying and threatening, before he passed him again on lap 47. It stayed that way for two laps, Leclerc probing to respond, but waved yellow flags following a clash between Lance Stroll and Albon, left him frustrated as they started the final lap.

12
No. of points by which Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc (45) leads Red Bull’s Max Verstappen (33) in the F1 World C’ship

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