Sergio Pérez holds off charging Max Verstappen to win in Jeddah
Sergio Pérez took home his first Saudi Arabian Grand Prix win as the Red Bull driver converted his pole to a win to win the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2023. Pérez's teammate Max Verstappen who started 15th after a mechanical issue hampered his qualifying, finished an incredible second with Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso finishing on the podium for a second race in a row although a post race penalty for serving his penalty incorrectly dropped the Spaniard to fourth position and saw George Russell score his first podium on the season. Mercedes had Lewis Hamilton finish fifth with the Ferrari's of Carlos Sainz and Leclerc finishing a disappointing sixth and seventh. The two Alpine's of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly were eighth and ninth with the Haas of Kevin Magnussen rounding up the top 10 places. Verstappen snatched the fastest lap on the final lap, which means he leaves Jeddah as the Drivers' Standing leader with his teammate just a point behind in second place. Fernando Alonso's fourth place keeps him in the title hunt while George Russell, Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton are further below. Red Bull’s second 1-2 in as many races means they have a 49 point lead in the Constructors' Standings with Mercedes in a surprise second place and Aston Martin in third. Ferrari are a distant fourth with 26 points and the Scuderia will be disappointed after a poor Jeddah race, which should have yielded them more points. It was Sergio Pérez who got the action underway and the Mexican was immediately overtaken by Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso going into the first turn. Alonso took the early lead from Pérez with Mercedes' George Russell in third. Alonso's teammate Lance Stroll overtook Ferrari's Carlos Sainz on the opening lap while Charles Leclerc who took a ten-place grid drop, was up three places by the end of the first lap. Championship leader Max Verstappen, who started P15, due to a driveshaft issue in qualifying made up two places in the opening lap and was up to 13th. Up ahead, while Alonso was in the lead, the veteran Spaniard was given an early five-second penalty due to starting out of position on the starting grid.
