Max Verstappen continued his march towards another season of Formula 1 dominance with a resounding victory at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Saturday.
Despite the recent turbulence within the Red Bull team, Verstappen exhibited unwavering control on the track, positioning himself for a potential fourth consecutive championship title.
Amidst the spotlight, 18-year-old Oliver Bearman made an impressive debut as a Ferrari stand-in, securing a surprising seventh place in his maiden F1 race.
Reflecting on his triumph, Verstappen remarked, “A fantastic weekend for the whole team and also for myself. I felt really good with the car.”
The Dutch prodigy clinched the win comfortably, crossing the finish line 8.6 seconds ahead of his teammate Sergio Perez, extending to 13.6 seconds once Perez’s time penalty was applied. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc claimed the third spot on the podium.
Leclerc, acknowledging Red Bull’s dominance, commented, “It was a bit of a boring race because Red Bull were a bit too quick and behind we had a bit of a gap, but we took the maximum points we could today.”
Verstappen, starting from pole position, successfully defended his lead against Leclerc at the first corner, reminiscent of his performance at the season opener in Bahrain.
A brief interruption occurred due to Lance Stroll’s crash, prompting Verstappen to pit for a tire change. Following the restart, he swiftly overtook Lando Norris to reclaim the lead.
Despite Perez’s five-second penalty for an unsafe release from the pits, his substantial lead over Leclerc secured him a comfortable second place.
Verstappen’s victory marks his ninth consecutive win dating back to the previous season, and his 56th career win, underscoring the remarkable dominance he has displayed in recent seasons with Red Bull.
Bearman’s seventh-place finish for Ferrari came after being called up as an emergency replacement for Carlos Sainz Jr., who underwent appendicitis surgery.
Oscar Piastri secured fourth place for McLaren, followed by Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin in fifth and George Russell of Mercedes in sixth.
Further down the grid, McLaren’s Lando Norris fended off Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes in a battle for eighth place. Nico Hulkenberg claimed the final point for Haas, marking the team’s first point in F1 since the Singapore Grand Prix in September.
Verstappen’s victory comes amid speculation regarding his future with Red Bull. While there were suggestions of reconsideration if his mentor Helmut Marko were to depart, Marko reassured that he would stay with the team.
Verstappen emphasized the importance of unity within the team, stating, “I always said that, what is most important is that we work together as a team and that everyone keeps the peace.”
“And that’s what we, I think, we all agree on within the team. So hopefully from now onwards, that is also fully the case and everyone is trying to focus in the same direction. And I think the positive out of all this is that it didn’t hurt our performances, so it’s a very strong team.”
The recent controversy surrounding Red Bull, including allegations against team principal Horner, has raised concerns within the team. Verstappen’s father, Jos, has been vocal in his criticism, highlighting potential discord if the issues persist.
As the team navigates through these challenges, Verstappen remains focused on maintaining their strong performance on the track, emphasizing the need for unity and a shared direction within the team.
