Max Verstappen made it two wins out of two at the start of the 2024 Formula One season by leading a Red Bull one-two in front of team-mate Sergio Perez at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Reigning champion Verstappen secured his ninth consecutive victory on a day when arguably the most remarkable result was a seventh-placed finish for 18-year-old Oliver Bearman.
The Briton, who was deputising for Carlos Sainz because the Spaniard needed an appendectomy, finished seventh for Ferrari, holding off McLaren’s Lando Norris and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton.
Bearman’s team-mate, Charles Leclerc, came third, finish 11.4 seconds behind Perez.
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While the action in Jeddah could hardly be described as thrilling, Bearman’s mature race as he became the youngest British driver in F1 history and the third youngest ever made for a memorable race.
Norris and Hamilton switched to soft tyres in late pit stops after not doing so when the safety car came out on lap six because Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll crashed.
After initially gaining ground, though, the pair were left to compete with each other for eighth while Bearman, whose father, David, was pictured watching intently, completed his impressive debut.
RACE CLASSIFICATION (LAP 50/50)
Win #56 for Max, podium #100 👏👏👏#F1 #SaudiArabianGP pic.twitter.com/bE8BLxA9lp
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 9, 2024
Verstappen Saudi Arabia win ‘fantastic’
Norris had briefly taken the lead following the introduction of the safety car but Verstappen swiftly overtook him and proceeded to another crushing win.
“It was a fantastic weekend for the whole team and myself – and for the car,” Verstappen said afterwards. “I felt really good.
“The last stint was a bit longer than we would have liked but, with the safety car, you have to go for it. The last few laps were with those back markers with the cold tyres – a little slippery, but we had good pace all round and we could manage it quite well.”
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri took advantage of Hamilton pitting to eventually claim fourth, with Fernando Alonso fifth for Aston Martin and Mercedes’ George Russell sixth.
Verstappen has a 15-point advantage over Perez ahead of the Australian Grand Prix on March 24.
