Race Notes - Verstappen takes Saudi Arabia

By Mark Karp

Max Verstappen won the Saudian Arabian GP in his Red Bull-Honda.

It was another Red Bull 1-2 with Sergio Pérez taking second, 13.643 seconds behind.

Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari took third place, 18.639 seconds behind the winner, also taking the point for fast lap on the final lap with a 1m31.632s.

The win is Verstappen’s 56 career victory, and ninth consecutive win. It was Verstappen's 100 podium finish. Red Bull moves into fourth on the all-time wins list ahead of Williams.

Oscar Piastri (32.007s) in the McLaren-Mercedes finished fourth, followed by Fernando Alonso (35.759s) in the Aston Martin-Mercedes was fifth, George Russell (39.936s) in the Mercedes GP was sixth, rookie Oliver Bearman (42.679s) in the Ferrari was seventh (he is the 68th driver to score points on his initial F1 outing), Lando Norris (45.708s) in the second Ferrari was eighth, Lewis Hamilton (47.391s) in the second Mercedes was ninth, and Nico Hulkenberg (1m16.996s) in the Haas-Ferrari took the final point in tenth place.

The sun went down and the teams prepared for the start of a difficult street race, with Verstappen and Leclerc on the front row, Perez and Alonso on row 2, Piastri and Norris on row 3, Russell and Hamilton on row 4 and Tsunoda and Stroll rounding out the top ten.

Rookie Oliver Bearman, replacing Carlos Sainz, who had surgery on his appendix on Friday, for this race in the Ferrari starting from 11th place.

All drivers on medium tyres for the start, except for Bearman and Bottas starting on soft tyres. A one-stop strategy expected.

All prior Saudi Arabian GP’s have had a safety car.

At the appointed time the field came around on the formation lap and lined up on the grid, the lights went out and the race began with Verstappen fwd in the lead, Perez gets ahead of Leclerc into the first corner, but Leclerc comes back and to take second, followed by Perez and Alonso.

Gasly pits with gearbox problems.

On lap 2 Piastri passes Alonso for fourth.

Bearman fighting Tsunoda for tenth.

On lap 4 Perez passes Leclerc for second. Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m34.043s, and then again on the next lap with 1m33.754s.

On lap 6 Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m33.676s.

On lap 7 Stroll crashes and the safety car comes out.

Everyone pits except for Norris, Hamilton, Hulkenberg and Zhou.

Under the safety car Norris leads Verstappen, Hamilton, Perez, Leclerc, Piastri, Alonso, Hulkenberg, Russell and Zhou in tenth - pitting drivers switching to hard tyres.

At the start of lap 1-0 the safety car is in and the race resumes with Norris in the lead over Verstappen and Hamilton.

On lap 11 Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m33.610s.

On lap 12 Verstappen passes Norris for the lead. Perez passes Hamilton for third.

Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m33.321s, and then 1m33.144s.

Bearman passes Zhou for tenth.

Norris, who appeared to have jumped the start is not given a penalty.

On lap 15 Leclerc passes Hamilton for fourth.

Perez is given a 5-second penalty for an unsafe release ahead of Alonso at the safety car.

Magnussen is handed a 10-second penalty for his collision with Albon.

Hamilton is stuggi

Piastri is challenging Hamilton.

On lap 17 Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m33.059s.

Perez passes Norris for second place.

Hulkenberg and Bearman are battling for ninth place.

At lap 20 Verstappen leads Perez by 5.9 seconds, followed by Norris (8.8s), Leclerc (10.4s), Hamilton (13.4s), Piastri (14.2s), Alonso (17.7s), Russell (19.2s), Hulkenberg (24.9s), Bearman (25.0s) in tenth place.

On lap 21 Bearman passes Hulkenberg for ninth.

On lap 22 Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m32.933s.

Magnussen gets handed a 10-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.

Piastri continues to battle Hamilton for fifth, but Hamilton is able to hold his position.

On lap 23 Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m32.792s. and then again with 1m32.683s.

At half distance Verstappen leads Perez and Norris.

Leclerc is challenging Norris for third.

Magnussen is leading a stack of cars with Tsunoda, Ocon, Albon and Sargeant following closely.

On lap 27 Leclerc passes Norris for third.

Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m32.567s.

Norris and Hamilton continue to run well on their original medium tyres.

At lap 30 Verstappen leads Perez by 7.5 seconds, followed by Leclerc (16,6s), Norris (20.4s), Hamilton (24.7s), Piastri (25.8s), Alonso (30.1s), Russell (31.7s), Bearman (37.6s) and Hulkenberg (47.7s) in tenth place.

On lap 34 Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m32.309s.

Albon passes Tsunoda for 14th.

Hulkenberg pits for hard tyres and rejoins 11th.

Piastri continues to challenge Hamilton for fifth, Hamilton keeps the position.

On lap 37 Hamilton pits for soft tyres and rejoins in ninth behind Bearman.

Alonso report that he kissed the wall at turn 9.

On lap 38 Perez sets fast lap at 1m32.273s.

Norris has a slow stop for soft tyres and rejoins in eighth ahead of Hamilton.

Hamilton sets fast lap at 1m31.746s and closely follows Norris.

At lap 40 Verstappen leads Perez by 8.7 seconds, followed by Leclerc (20.7s), Piastri (32.6s), Alonso (36.5s), Russell (37.9s), Bearman (43.7s), Norris (48.2s), Hamilton (49.3s) and Zhou (1m13.6s) in tenth.

On lap 42 Zhou pits, Hulkenberg moving into tenth.

Russell is closing on Alonso for fifth.

Albon passes Ocon for 12th.

Bearman continuing to stay ahead of Norris and Hamilton pushing from behind.

On lap 49 Ricciardo spins.

At the flag Verstappen wins over Perez and Leclerc.