Saudi Arabian GP Highlights: Formula 1 2023 Season – Sergio Perez has claimed his 5th career race victory, winning the Saudi Arabian GP. He led from the front and while Fernando Alonso claimed the lead momentarily, Perez retook the lead to bag the race win. But it was Max Verstappen who cut through the midfield to take the 2nd spot after starting at 15th. He had a gearbox issue in Qualifying and thus started from P15 after failing to cross Q2. But what was a heartbreak moment for the oldest man on the grid, Fernando Alonso, was stripped off his 100th podium finish after a late 10-sec penalty. George Russell moved up to third with Lewis Hamilton finishing 5th. Follow Formula 1 LIVE Updates with InsideSport.IN.
BREAKING: Fernando Alonso is given a 10s penalty for an incorrectly-served penalty, and loses his podium in Jeddah
He drops to fourth, with George Russell moving up to third#SaudiArabianGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/PWA3dM3wI4
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 19, 2023
Perez overcame an attack from Alonso at the start, a nervy Safety Car period and Verstappen’s charge from the midfield to make up for the loss last year. Verstappen progressed to P2 in rapid time but ultimately had to accept defeat to Perez. The reigning world champion managed additional driveshaft concerns late in the race after the same component failed during qualifying.
Alonso took the lead into Turn 1. But a subsequent time penalty for lining up outside his grid box, coupled with the relentless pace of the Red Bulls, meant he had to settle for 3rd.
However, Alonso’s rear jack mechanic was later judged to have touched the car before the Spaniard’s penalty had been served. Hence, Alonso received a further 10-second penalty after the race and dropped to P4.
Mercedes and Ferrari had no answers for Red Bull’s pace. They distantly followed in two-by-two formation. Russell got the better of teammate Lewis Hamilton. Carlos Sainz led Charles Leclerc home. However, the Silver Arrows at least had something to smile about. Russell claimed the team’s first podium of the campaign following Alonso’s penalty.
Alpine enjoyed a much stronger second round as Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly collected points in P8 and P9 respectively. Haas’s Kevin Magnussen and AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda went wheel-to-wheel over the final point. The Dane came out on top with a late move.
Nico Hulkenberg took 12th in the sister Haas. Alfa Romeo of Zhou Guanyu beat rookie drivers Nyck de Vries (AlphaTauri), Oscar Piastri (McLaren) and Logan Sargeant (Williams) to P13.
McLaren endured another tough day at the office after early front-wing changes for Piastri, who clashed with Gasly at the start. Lando Norris, who hit the debris, consigned them to evenings towards the back of the pack.
Piastri ultimately crossed the line in P15 after clearing Sargeant on the final lap. Norris narrowly avoided repeating as he settled for 17th. Valtteri Bottas finished last amid apparent technical trouble in his Alfa Romeo.
Alex Albon and Lance Stroll were the two retirements from the race. Albon encountered terminal brake problems aboard his Williams and Stroll told to stop his Aston Martin in the early stages.
Attention now turns to the third round of the 2023 F1 season in Australia. Verstappen holds the championship lead over Perez by a point thanks to him clocking the fastest lap of the race in the dying moments.
– With inputs from F1
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