Sergio Perez put in a commanding performance as he won the Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix ahead of Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen, making it the team’s second consecutive one-two victory after the season-opener in Bahrain.
The reigning world champion started 15th after a driveshaft failure in qualifying on Saturday, but made his way up the field to jump to second within 25 laps, clinching the fastest lap of the race on the final lap to retain his position at the top of the drivers’ championship.
Fernando Alonso recorded his 100th F1 podium in third place for Aston Martin, despite picking up a five-second time penalty for being out of position on the grid before the start of the race.
The Mercedes of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton were the next to cross the chequered flag in fourth and fifth respectively, followed by the Ferrari duo of Carlos Sainz Jr. and Charles Leclerc in sixth and seventh respectively.
Re-confirming the top 10 in Saudi Arabia ????#SaudiArabianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/9FpHavGyUl
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 19, 2023
Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly finished eighth and ninth for Alpine, while Kevin Magnussen completed the top 10 in his Haas.
The next race will come at the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit for the Australian Grand Prix on April 2.
