Max Verstappen passed Charles Leclerc with four laps to go to win Sunday’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Forty-eight hours after a nearby missile strike threatened to cancel the second round of the new Formula One season, Verstappen claimed the first victory of his title defence following a thrilling battle with Leclerc which went to the wire.
Verstappen crossed the line only half-a-second ahead of Leclerc, with Carlos Sainz third and pole-sitter Sergio Perez fourth.
Formula One F1 - Saudi Arabia Grand Prix - Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - March 27, 2022 Red Bull's Max Verstappen celebrates on the podium with the trophy after winning the race REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
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George Russell finished fifth for Mercedes, with Lewis Hamilton only 10th on an evening to forget for the seven-time world champion.
Hamilton, who started only 15th following one of the worst qualifying performances of his career, made good progress through the field to move up to 10th by the start of lap 14, and then seventh when Mercedes kept him out on old rubber following Nicholas Latifi’s lap-17 crash and the first safety car. That became sixth when he made his way ahead of Kevin Magnussen.
Mercedes were banking on further drama to afford Hamilton a free pit stop.
But, when the virtual safety car arrived with 14 laps to run, Hamilton was denied a stop for fresh rubber, with Fernando Alonso and Daniel Ricciardo stuttering to a halt on the entry to the pit lane.
When the virtual safety car period ended on lap 41 and the pit lane reopened, Hamilton was allowed to stop, but he fell back six places to 12th before passing Alexander Albon and then Lance Stroll to take the final point.
Up front, Leclerc and Verstappen were involved in a tantalising battle for victory for the second time in a week.
Formula One F1 - Saudi Arabia Grand Prix - Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - March 27, 2022 Red Bull's Max Verstappen crosses the line to win the race ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed/Pool
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On lap 42, Verstappen fought his way past Leclerc at the final corner, only for the Monegasque to move back ahead of the world champion on the main straight.
At the end of lap 46, Verstappen learnt his lesson and fixed his Red Bull on to the back of Leclerc’s Ferrari gearbox through the final bend before using the tow and DRS to roar past his rival on the main straight.
Leclerc hustled Verstappen to the line, but the Dutch driver kept his composure to win.
Leclerc leads Ferrari team-mate Sainz in the championship, with Verstappen 20 points adrift following his late retirement in Bahrain a week ago.
Verstappen said: “It was a really tough race but good race. We battled hard and we had to play the long game.
“It wasn’t easy, we were playing smart tricks in the final corner, but we managed to get ahead. We are happy that we finally kick-started the season.
Formula One F1 - Saudi Arabia Grand Prix - Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - March 27, 2022 Red Bull's Max Verstappen celebrates winning the race REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
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Leclerc, who won the opening round in Bahrain, added: “It wasn’t enough today, but I really enjoyed that race.
“It is hard racing but fair. And every race should be like this. I wanted to win today. Max did a great job.
“I was pushing like I have rarely pushed before, to the absolute limit, but of course there is respect. However, I am disappointed.”
Perez was unfortunate to drop back after he lost out when he stopped before the safety car was deployed.
Russell took the flag more than half-a-second back as Mercedes’ poor start to the campaign continued, with fellow Briton Lando Norris a respectable seventh for McLaren.
