Formula 1: Max Verstappen blows victory to Charles Leclerc at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix


The world champion’s response. Forced to retire last week in Bahrain, Max Verstappen won the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix this Sunday after a breathless battle in the final laps with Charles Leclerc. Carlos Sainz completed the podium.

This time, the last laps smiled on him. While he had to give up a few laps of the checkered flag due to a mechanical problem, last week, on the Sakhir circuit for the opening of the season, Max Verstappen built his 21st victory in the final laps track on the urban layout of Jeddah. Second behind Charles Leclerc, who seemed to be on his way to a second consecutive victory after taking control in the first third of the race after the safety car entered the track, Max Verstappen returned to the exhausts of the Ferrari at less than ten rounds of arrival.

The two pilots engaged in a thrilling fight, between attack, counter-attack and bluff. And in this little game, the reigning world champion finally had the last word, taking advantage of the top speed of his Red Bull to overtake his rival by three laps and win with a breath in front of the Monegasque.

With this victory, Max Verstappen was reassured, as was the Austrian team, which also placed Sergio Pérez, author of the pole, in 4and place, after an inaugural round marked by the inaugural retirement of its two single-seaters. But Verstappen and Red Bull will have a hard time dealing with the Ferraris of Lerclec and Sainz, 3and in Saudi Arabia, which have confirmed their return to the forefront.

Behind, Mercedes had another difficult weekend. If George Russel took the 5and place, ahead of the Alpine of Esteban Ocon (6th), Lewis Hamilton, 15and on the starting grid, finished only in 10and position. The German team and the seven-time world champion have two weeks to correct the situation before the Australian Grand Prix, where Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen have already made an appointment for a new fierce fight.





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