Red Bull driver Max Verstappen overtook Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari three laps from the end of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix for the defending champion’s …
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen overtook Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari three laps from the end of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix for the defending champion’s first win of the Formula One season and 21st of his career on Sunday. The race under floodlights was held two days after an attack on a nearby oil depot by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. Leclerc was aiming for back-to-back victories after winning the season-opener in Bahrain from pole position last Sunday, but Verstappen overtook him on Lap 47 of 50 after some thrilling wheel-to-wheel racing between them. «Really happy we finally kick-started the season,» Verstappen said. «It was a really tough race but a good race. We were both battling hard at the front.» Leclerc even congratulated his old karting rival on the radio and then gave him a thumbs-up after. «We’ve been pushing like I’ve rarely pushed before, we take risks. Of course there’s respect,» Leclerc said. «I really enjoyed that race, it was hard racing but fair. Every race should be like this. It was fun, I wanted to win today.» Leclerc missed out on a fourth career win, as Verstappen edged him by half a second, but remains top of the standings after two races. Leclerc has 45 points, Carlos Sainz Jr.33 and Verstappen 25. Sainz finished in third place to make it another podium double for Ferrari after he was second in Bahrain where Leclerc had brilliantly repelled three attacks from Verstappen, who retired right near the end of that race with teammate Sergio Perez.
