Saudi Arabia GP: Sergio Perez Wins As Max Verstappen Improves To Make Podium

 

Sergio Perez made most of his pole start to win the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix for his fifth race win as Red Bull took a one-two finish with Max Verstappen inproving from P15 to P2. 

Perez was faced with strong contest from Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso and even though he was penalised by the stewards, he kept Perez on his toes as he dominated and raced on to clinch his season's first race win in 1:21:14.894s. 

Verstappen was able to recover from the mechanical issue he suffered at the qualifying and improved steadily through  and past Alonso to tail his teammate, Perez to the chequer's flag. He even delivered the fastest lap in 1:31.906s. Meanwhile, Alonso had an impressive race and should have made podium position in third but had a penalty hanging over him. 

Alonso's nightmare started from the starting grid for incorrect starting position and even though the penalty was served during stafety car, he was yet again served another 10-second penalty for failing to serve the penalty correctly in the pit. 

The penalty served Alonso dropped him to fourth position while Mercedes' George Russell moved up to third for a podium finish. Lewis Hamiton followed in the fifth. 

The Ferrari duo, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz followed in sixth and seventh position respectively but that was a good improvement from Leclerc who should have started in P2 if not for a 10-place penalty from the qualifying that dropped him him to P12.