The inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was certainly a memorable one for many reasons, not all good. Frankly, it was an embarrassing show of control and communication by the ones who implement the rules. In what was a tremendously messy race, Lewis Hamilton ensured that he enters the final round tied on points with Max Verstappen heading into the final round. Two red flags and multiple Virtual Safety Cars were just a couple factors in a race that seemed to have everything.
It was an exciting and controversial race, but not a good one for Formula 1.
Hamilton and Verstappen were, again, in a race of their own. From lights out, both Mercedes cars led Verstappen for the first ten laps until the safety car was introduced after Mick Schumacher copied Charles Leclerc by smacking the barrier at turn 22. The safety car was introduced, which saw both Valtteri Bottas back up Verstappen in order for Mercedes to pull off a double stack pit stop. Verstappen did not pit and took the lead. The red flag was then introduced as the barriers needed sorting.
This left Verstappen free to change his tyres, such as the red flag rules, along with the Red Bull driver sharing the front row with Hamilton at the restart, angering his British rival. Yet, Hamilton seemed to jump into the lead at lights out, but Verstappen tried it around the outside, running wide before coming back onto the track and moving Hamilton wide. Obviously, Hamilton and Mercedes weren’t happy.
It continued however as behind, Sergio Perez saw himself facing and hitting the wall after being tagged by Leclerc whilst Nikita Mazepin soared into the back of George Russell’s Williams whilst everyone attempted to avoid the mess. Ultimately, it was a mess and another red flag. During the second break in racing, the race director gave Red Bull the option for Verstappen to move back behind Hamilton, and behind Esteban Ocon as the Frenchman was between the two. They accepted, and Verstappen lined up on the grid for the third time in third, Hamilton second and Ocon in the pole position slot.
Ocon who got himself in a very strong position after starting ninth and taking advantage of the red flag.
Verstappen then produced a wonder dive down the inside that was tremendous, getting both cars into turn one and retaking the lead – it was a move that will be shown plenty of times so well done that man. Obviously, it did not take Hamilton long to pass Ocon and he was immediately showing his superior pace. Following this, three Virtual Safety Car periods were called as Sebastian Vettel’s Aston Martin began to litter the entire circuit after contact with Kimi Raikkonen.
Hamilton now had the DRS on Verstappen as the two raced into turn one, with Hamilton trying around the outside with both drivers on the limit. Verstappen was then met with a slap of oversteer which moved himself and Hamilton wide, with the Dutchman maintaining the lead. Then, of course, the radio calls ensued as grown men became children. Red Bull told Verstappen on the radio to allow Hamilton past, but Hamilton was not told that. Verstappen proceeded to slow towards final corner, with Hamilton also slowing before hitting the back of the Red Bull. Ultimately a big understanding, Hamilton accused Verstappen of brake checking him, whilst Verstappen disagreed. It continued still as Verstappen allowed Hamilton past a few laps after before sending it down the inside to repass.
The Dutchman was then slapped with a five second penalty for his antics at turn one, despite him and his team believing they allowed Hamilton past. It was a mess. The medium tyres on Verstappen would proceed to fall off the cliff as Hamilton crossed the line 11.8s ahead of his rival.
With his victory and fastest lap, the two are now tied on points heading into the final round of the season – the first time this has happened since 1974. Two incredible drivers that are pushing the limits of ability and racing, but this race was not the show that they should have put on. Both drivers were moaning at each other through the radio with Verstappen angered at Hamilton’s behaviour on the way to the grid for the restart. with Red Bull annoyed that Hamilton seemed to force Verstappen wide at the final corner etc etc – messy. But, the most important thing from this race was the inability from the heads of the sport to control the race. It needs sorting.
Bottas suffered from one of the red flag restarts, locking up heavily and dropping to fifth. In his usual fashion, Bottas struggled to make his way back through and found himself fighting Daniel Ricciardo, eventually passing him. Quickly latching onto Ocon, the two were left to duel for that final podium position in the dying laps. A duel which saw Bottas steal third from Ocon on the line, to the agony of Ocon and Alpine.
Ricciardo was one who had a calm race with fifth, one second ahead of Pierre Gasly who seemed to struggle with overheating brakes from the start.
The Ferrari duo found themselves battling each other, despite Carlos Sainz starting in 15th. Leclerc would managed to stay ahead of his teammate by two seconds in seventh, with Sainz recovering to eighth. Antonio Giovinazzi was able to turn his qualifying form into the race by bringing home points for Alfa Romeo in eighth, as Raikkonen struggled in 15th.
Lando Norris was certainly the unluckiest driver on the grid. The McLaren man was in a comfortable sixth place before stopping early after running through his soft tyres. Then, the red flag dropped Norris to 14th. To make matters worse, Norris had to almost stop to avoid the sideways Perez which dropped him to the back. However, Norris was calmly able to recover to the points to grab the final points paying position.
Lance Stroll manage to fare better after a poor Saturday for Aston Martin, but still missed out on the points in 11th by 16 seconds. Vettel would retire the car after his contact and littering in order to save the engine for the final round.
Nicholas Latifi was relatively invisible in 12th, with Fernando Alonso in in 13th. The Alpine man capped his tricky weekend in Jeddah by spinning early into the race dropping to 16th.
Yuki Tsunoda managed to finish ahead of Raikkonen in 14th, but his race was over after a slight incident in turn one and two. Tsunoda and Vettel had a battle heading in to the opening turn, before Tsunoda audaciously tried to re pass at turn two, hitting Vettel and losing his front wing.
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