In the second race of the 2023 Formula 1 Calendar, it was Red Bull Racing's Sergio Perez who registered a commanding win at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on Sunday. He sealed a pole position in the qualifying on Saturday and made the most of it by finishing first. Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso came third while Perez's teammate Max Verstappen completed the podium finish at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, finishing second.
The result makes it two out of two wins for Red Bull this season with Max Verstappen winning the season opener in Bahrain earlier this month. Verstappen, despite starting P15 on the grid, completed a sensational comeback to finish on the podium on a track which is known for being difficult for overtakes.
It was a record of sorts for Alonso as well whose third-place finish on Sunday extended his number of podium finishes in Formula 1 into the triple figures, with his performance on Sunday marking his 100th such race. Meanwhile, the Mercedes duo of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton came ended the race fourth and fifth respectively. Initially, Russell was in the third place but later Verstappen's superb display saw him get to the second place, overtaking even Russell and Alonso.
Much like Verstappen, Scuderia Ferrari's Charles Leclerc also had a job in his hands to recover after his pre-race grid penalty but against his Red Bull rival who finished second, his seventh was much less of a prize. His teammate Carlos Sainz finished ahead of him at the sixth place.
Alpine Renault's duo of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly finished eighth and ninth while Haas Ferrari's Kevin Magnussen completed the top ten of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
The Formula 1 will now head to Australia later this month with the final race there scheduled on April 2.