Sergio Perez leads home team-mate Max Verstappen to seal Red Bull one-two in Jeddah; Verstappen recovered from 15th on the grid to push his team-mate to the end; Fernando Alonso takes second successive podium for Aston Martin ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell and Lewis Hamilton
Last Updated: 19/03/23 6:37pm
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Sergio Perez snatched back the lead from Fernando Alonso at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Sergio Perez snatched back the lead from Fernando Alonso at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Sergio Perez impressively held off team-mate Max Verstappen’s charge from 15th on the grid to seal a Red Bull one-two at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
A technical failure in qualifying had left Verstappen with only faint hopes of victory, but he looked in with a strong chance when a safety car helped him move up to second and within six seconds of his team-mate before the race reached its halfway stage.
However, Perez, who had only claimed three wins in his two previous seasons as the Dutchman’s team-mate, produced a hugely composed display to hold his advantage as Red Bull claimed a one-two in front of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso for the second time in as many races this season.
Alonso led into the first corner of beating pole-sitter Perez off the line, but was soon overtaken by a Red Bull car that he simply didn’t have the pace to compete with, while the Spaniard was then also forced to serve a five-second penalty during his pit stop for having lined up in an incorrect starting position on the grid.
George Russell finished fourth, a place ahead of Lewis Hamilton, after ignoring instructions to let his team-mate past him after the safety car had left the seven-time world champion on a more favourable tyre, and with a theoretically better chance of chasing down Alonso.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen secured P2 after overtaking Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
However, Russell appeared to justify his decision by opening a gap to Hamilton, as the Mercedes came home comfortably in front of Ferrari duo Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc, who was left angry with his team-mate after feeling he had not received the correct instructions under the safety car.
Esteban Ocon finished eighth ahead of team-mate Pierre Gasly to complete a strong afternoon for Alpine, while Kevin Magnussen produced a late overtake to snatch the final point from AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda.
More to follow…
Saudi Arabian GP Race Result
1) Sergio Perez, Red Bull
2) Max Verstappen, Red Bull
3) Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
4) George Russell, Mercedes
5) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
6) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
7) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
8) Esteban Ocon, Alpine
9) Pierre Gasly, Alpine
10) Kevin Magnussen, Haas
