Mark ThompsonGetty Images
Defending Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull finally got on the scoreboard Sunday in Saudi Arabia.
Verstappen, who finished out of the points at the season opening race in Bahrain, got the win in Saudi Arabia. He battled first-race winner Charles Leclerc over the final 10 laps and made the final pass on lap 47 of 50.
Carlos Sainz completed the podium in third. Rounding out the top 10 and scoring were pole sitters Sergio Perez in fourth, George Russell in fifth, Esteban Ocon in sixth, Lando Norris in seventh, Pierre Gasly in eighth, Kevin Magnussen in ninth and Lewis Hamilton in 10th.
“It was really a tough one,” Verstappen said. “It was a good race, and we were battling hard on the front. Really happy that we finally kick-started the season.”
The race featured multiple lead changes over the final eight laps. Verstappen’s final margin of victory was 0.549 seconds. It marked the closest finish in F1 since the 2020 Italian Grand Prix. In that one, Gasly edged Sainz by .415 second.
Leclerc earned the bonus point for fastest lap and retained the points lead. He leads teammate Sainz by 12 points.
“I really enjoyed that race,” Leclerc said. “It’s hard racing, but it was fair. Every race should be like this.”
results
1, Max Verstappen, Red Bull
2, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
3, Carlos Sainz, Red Bull
4, Sergio Perez, Ferrari
5, George Russell, Mercedes
6, Esteban Ocon, Alpine
7, Lando Norris, McLaren
8, Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri
9, Kevin Magnussen, Haas
10, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
11, Guanyuzhou, Alfa Romeo
12, Nico Hulkenburg, Aston Martin
13, Lance Stroll, Alston Martin
14, Alex Albion, Williams
15, Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo
16, Fernando Alonso, Alpine
17, Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren
18, Nicholas Latifi, Williams
19, Yuki Tsunoda, Alpha Tauri
Mick Schumacher, Haas – DNA
