Max Verstappen secured victory in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Saturday, extending Red Bull’s impressive start to the Formula One season with another one-two finish.
Starting from pole position, the Dutch driver delivered a flawless performance under the floodlights of Jeddah, crossing the finish line ahead of his teammate Sergio Perez. This marked Red Bull’s second consecutive one-two finish in as many races, solidifying their early dominance in the championship.
Perez, the Mexican driver and last year’s winner in Saudi Arabia, finished as the runner-up, trailing Verstappen by 13.643 seconds. Charles Leclerc of Ferrari completed the podium, claiming third place in the thrilling race.
Verstappen’s victory marked his ninth consecutive win, a streak that dates back to Japan last September. At just 26 years old, the Dutch driver now boasts an impressive total of 56 career victories in Formula One.
The race also saw the debut of Britain’s Oliver Bearman, who, at 18 years and 305 days old, became Ferrari’s youngest-ever rookie in Formula One. Bearman, filling in for the sidelined Carlos Sainz due to appendicitis, finished in seventh place and was awarded the title of Driver of the Day for his commendable performance on his debut outing.