Reissuing the postcard that promises to be repeated also during the 2024 Formula 1 season, The Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull) conquered the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix with his usual authoritysecond test of the, this time on the Jeddah street circuit.
The current triple world champion, who had already started from pole, surpassed his teammate, the Mexican Sergio Checo Pérez, also as in Bahrain, and achieved his 56th victory, ninth in a row.
Despite the internal controversies that have shaken Red Bull for a month with the start of the Christian Horner case, acquitted of accusations of “inappropriate behavior” made by an employee, who was suspended, the Austrian team confirmed about the rapid route to shores of the Red Sea his overwhelming superiority by signing his second double in two races.
Third place on the podium went to the Monegasque Ferrari driver Charles Leclercwho had shared the first starting line with Verstappen, and that he arrived 18.6 seconds behind the winner of the day, although he was able to score the fastest lap point ‘in extremis’.
The veteran former Spanish champion Fernando Alonso was fifth, two places ahead of the young British Ferrari driver Oliver Bearman, who debuted in F1 with the difficult task of filling in at the last minute for the Spanish Carlos Sainz Jr, convalescing from an appendicitis operation.
Bearman started from eleventh position, and became at 18 years, 10 months and 1 day He is the third youngest driver in history to participate in a Formula 1 Grand Prix. “He did an incredible job, to be seventh in your first race in F1 is very impressive,” Leclerc said of his teenage teammate.
Oliver Bearman debuted at Ferrari at the age of 18, replacing Sáinz with appendicitis. English talent with a future. (AFP PHOTO)
Australian Oscar Piastri, from McLaren, finished in fourth position, ahead of Alonso’s Aston Martin. George Russell (Mercedes), Bearman, Lando Norris (McLaren), Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) and the surprising Haas of Nico Hulkenberg completed the top-10.
The classification of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
1. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) los 308,450 km en 1 h 20:43.273
2. Sergio Pérez (MEX/Red Bull) at 13,643
3. Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) a 18.639
4. Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren-Mercedes) at 32,007
5. Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin-Mercedes) at 35,759
6. George Russell (GBR/Mercedes) a 39.936
7. Oliver Bearman (GBR/Ferrari) a 42.679
8. Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes) 45.708
9. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) a 47.391
10.Nico Hülkenberg (GER/Haas-Ferrari) in 1:16.996
11.Alexander Albon (THA/Williams-Mercedes) a 1:28.354
12. Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas-Ferrari) a 1:45.737
13.Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine-Renault) 1 lap away
14.Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/Racing Bulls-Red Bull) a 1 vuelta
15.Logan Sargeant (USA/Williams-Mercedes) at 1 lap
16.Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Racing Bulls-Red Bull) 1 lap away
17.Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Sauber-Ferrari) a 1 Vuelta
18. Zhou Guanyu (CHN/Sauber-Ferrari) a 1 vuelta
Fast lap in race
Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) 1:31.632 on lap 50 (average: 212.624 km/h)
In Arabia, the Ferraris only saw Red Bull up close at the start line… (AFP Photo)
Abandons
Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine-Renault): gearbox on second lap
Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin-Mercedes): off the track on lap six
Drivers’ World Championship classification
1. Max Verstappen (NED) 51 pts
2. Sergio Pérez (MEX) 36
3. Charles Leclerc (MON) 28
4. George Russell (GBR) 18
5. Oscar Piastri (AUS) 16
6. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP) 15
7. Fernando Alonso (ESP) 12
8. Lando Norris (GBR) 12
9. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) 8
10. Oliver Bearman (GBR) 6
11. Nico Hülkenberg (GER) 1
12. Lance Stroll (CAN) 1
13. Alexander Albon (THA) 0
14. Zhou Guanyu (CHN) 0
15. Kevin Magnussen (DEN) 0
16. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) 0
17. Esteban Ocon (FRA) 0
18. Yuki Tsunoda (JPN) 0
19. Logan Sargeant (USA) 0
20. Valtteri Bottas (FIN) 0
21. Pierre Gasly (FRA) 0
Constructors’ World Championship classification
1. Red Bull 87 pts
2. Ferrari 49
3. McLaren-Mercedes 28
4. Mercedes 26
5. Aston Martin-Mercedes 13
6. Haas-Ferrari 1
7. Williams-Mercedes 0
8. Sauber-Ferrari 0
9. Racing Bulls-Red Bull 0
10. Alpine-Renault 0
HB