In Red Bull, Max Verstappen won Sunday’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2022 Formula 1. This is the first triumph for the defending champion.
At the end of the Grand Prix, the Dutchman overtook Charles Leclerc and kept ahead of the Ferrari driver until the finish.
“It was a tough and beautiful race. We both fought hard to win and played a long game. Ferrari was fast in the corners and we were on the straights again,” said Verstappen.
Carlos Sainz Jr. with Ferrari finished third in Jeddah. The Spaniard stayed on the podium ahead of the advancing Sergio Pérez.
It was the Mexican in Red Bull who kept the pole position after the start of the lead. Perez drove to the pit stop in lap 16. But then Nicholas Latifi crashed into the barriers and a safety car set off on the track due to a damaged Williams.
Perez lost two positions and Leclerc and Verstappen took the lead. In addition, the Mexican had to hand in third place in favor of Sainz, who “snuggled” in front of the monopost when leaving the depot.
Leclerc, meanwhile, held the lead before Verstappen. The key battle ignited in the last fifth of the Grand Prix.
Previously, a virtual safety car was announced because Fernando Alonso did not get his Alpine monopost into the depot and remained standing at the box entrance. In addition, McLaren was stopped shortly before him by Australian pilot Daniel Ricciardo.
Verstappen seemed to better monitor his tire temperature and hung up behind Ferrari. After several unsuccessful attacks, the reigning champion survived in the 46th round.
From then on, the Dutch pilot secured the lead and in Jeddah, after the unfinished previous Bahrain Grand Prix, finished 21st of his career.
Leclerc holds the first position in the standings of the World Cup ahead of Sainz and Verstappen. “I really enjoyed this race,” Monačan said at the finish after a thrilling battle for victory with the defending champion.
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton managed to break through to tenth place after starting from the 15th position. McLaren scored the first points of the year thanks to eighth Land Norris. Only Aston Martin and Williams remain without points.
The season continues on April 10 with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.
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