Race number two of the 2023 season has been and gone and things didn't really play out as everyone expected. With Red Bull in a world of their own and the Aston Martin's looking speedy, a repeat of the Bahrain Grand Prix was on the horizon. But, this wasn't to be, exactly. So, what did happen in Saudi Arabia? Read on to find out!
Drama during a race weekend in Saudi Arabia isn't unheard of. And, like previous years, it all kicked off during Saturday's qualifying, this time when Max Verstappen's driveshaft failed in Q2 leaving him in P15 for Sunday's race. This was the big story going into Sunday and everyone was eagerly anticipating what the Dutch driver could achieve from here. His teammate; Sergio Perez, would be starting on pole, with Fernando Alonso in the Aston Martin beside him in P2.
Race day was upon us with all the cars lined up on the grid ready for their formation lap. Lewis Hamilton and Logan Sargeant would start the race on hard tyres, whereas Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris would go for the opposite - softs. Everyone else opted for mediums. Once the formation lap was complete; it was "lights out and away we go!"
Both Perez and Alonso had quick reactions when getting off the line but ultimately it was Alonso who took the lead into the first corner. His teammate, Lance Stroll, was also making up ground when he overtook the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz for 4th. However, it wasn't a clean start for everyone. Oscar Piastri damaged the front wing of his McLaren and had to pit for a new one at the end of the opening lap.
Onto Lap 2 and Alonso's hard work during the opening lap was about to be undone. He had received a 5 second penalty for being in the wrong position in his grid slot at the start of the race. If you remember, this also caught Esteban Ocon out in Bahrain. Down towards the back end of the field McLaren's woes continued. This time it was Norris in for a pit stop, also with a damaged front wing.
Leclerc, who started out of position down in 12th, was slowly making his way through the field. By lap 7 he had climbed to 8th and was starting to eye up a move on the Mercedes of Hamilton who, on lap 9, would receive a black and white flag for weaving on the start/finish straight. Verstappen was a little further behind Leclerc and Hamilton. On lap 8 passed Zhou Guanyu for the last points paying position in 10th.
After retaking first position on lap 5, Perez found himself out front with a comfortable lead. Alonso stays within DRS range but is no threat to the Red Bull. However, Hamilton, who had been passed by Leclerc, was not as comfortable and was heard complaining over team radio that "the grip sucks on this tyre."
Lap 14 comes around with drivers starting to pit. And, despite Hamilton's complaints about the hard tyre, the majority of drivers now find themselves on it as softs simply wouldn't make it to the end. Ferrari does an excellent job pitting their drivers as both of them manage to jump Stroll in the standings. However, things go from bad to worse for the Aston Martin driver when he's told to pull aside and stop. And, despite pulling into a safe position, the Safety Car is out, triggering even more pitstops including Fernando Alonso who would need to serve his 5 second penalty.
The race is quick to restart after the "unnecessary" safety car period. Perez is still out front with Alonso in P2. George Russell in his Mercedes is in third while Verstappen has climbed all the way to 4th and is waiting to pounce on the top three. Hamilton seems to be more content on the medium tyres and quickly moves into 5th after dispatching the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz. On lap 23, Verstappen makes his move on Russell and finds himself in a podium position. Two laps later, he's up to P2.
Back down the other end of the field, it's the Williams of Alex Albon that is starting to cause problems. With a potential brake issue, the Thai driver slowly limps back to the pits, keeping out of the way of other drivers and ultimately retiring from the race. And, although still running, things aren't much better for Ferrari who have hardly any pace on the hard tyres. In fact, they were going half a lap slower than both of the Mercedes who were in front. This leads Leclerc to say over team radio; "being behind like this is really ****, I don't know what to do."
Perez still has a comfortable lead over teammate; Verstappen, with 5 seconds splitting the two. Both drivers were responding well to one another by consistently setting the fastest laps. A battle that would decided who would be the championship leader. Things couldn't be more different for Haas driver; Nico Hulkenberg, however, who, on lap 35, goes off into a wonder and brushes the wall.
15 laps to go and Verstappen starts to complain about a weird noise that he can hear when driving at high speed. The team reassure him that everything is ok but Verstappen doesn't seem to sure when he anxiously replies over team radio. It then isn't long before Perez also comes onto the team radio complaining of a long break pedal. Again, Red Bull seem happy with how both cars are working.
5 laps to go and things are looking extremely good for Perez who is about to convert his pole to a win for the first time in his F1 career. A battle has brewed down in the midfield between Yuki Tsunoda and Kevin Magnussen over 10th place, with the Dane taking the position from Tsunoda on lap 46. At the back, both McLarens are fighting over the last few positions, but it's Valtteri Bottas bringing up the rear in his Alfa Romeo.
Things a get a little bit confusing in the latter stages of the race when Russell receives a radio message about a possible impending penalty for Alonso who is still running in 3rd. Aston Martin also come onto the radio advising their driver to create a bigger buffer between himself and Russell. Alonso responds well to this, but so does Russell who tells his team that he is "pushing like a mad man."
The chequered flag is flying and Sergio Perez wins in Saudi Arabia. Verstappen finishes in 2nd with the fastest lap. Alonso fends off Russell to finish the podium line up, his 100th in F1. Hamilton finishes 5th with Sainz in 6th and Leclerc in 7th. Esteban Ocon, Pierre Gasly and Kevin Magnussen round up the points.
However, the drama isn't done with yet, as during the podium celebrations it's confirmed that Alonso is indeed under investigation for serving his 5 second penalty incorrectly. News quickly breaks that the Spaniard has been slapped with a 10 second penalty, dropping him into 4th position with Russell getting promoted to 3rd. UPDATE: Alonso regains 3rd position and his 100th podium stands.
So, there we have it. We were all expecting another Verstappen win today but instead got to see Perez's true potential. Verstappen still leads the championship but by only one point to Perez. Are things about to get spicy between the Red Bull drivers? Can Alonso bounce back from his penalties? And, what about Ferrari? It wasn't too good for them out there today. Well, a two week break is now upon us. See you in Australia.
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