Also in Jeddah: Verstappen's dominance knows no limits

Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen triumphed confidently as usual at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Sergio Perez in second place confirmed Red Bull's current dominance.

March 09, 2024

From: apa

The Dutchman won on Saturday at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in a dominant fashion ahead of his Mexican Red Bull teammate and last year's winner Sergio Perez (+13,643 seconds). For the Austrian-British racing team it was the second double victory in the second race of the season. Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc completed the podium with a respectable gap of 18,639 seconds.

Unimpressed by Hustle and bustle about his discoverer and mentor Helmut Marko, whose future as a motorsport consultant for Red Bull Racing was briefly in question, Verstappen easily cruised to his 56th Grand Prix victory and his ninth success in a row across all seasons. “Another fantastic weekend,” Verstappen radioed to the pits. For the first time in his career, the triple world champion won the first two races of a season, although Leclerc took the extra point for the fastest race lap.

Oliver Bearman brilliantly replaced the Spaniard on his Grand Prix debut. © APA/afp / GIUSEPPE CACACE

Oliver Bearman celebrated a successful debut for Ferrari. The 18-year-old Brit stepped in for regular driver Carlos Sainz in Saudi Arabia, delivered a test of talent with a seventh place finish and was voted driver of the day by the fans. “Ollie” Bearman, who started the race in eleventh place, became the youngest Ferrari driver in Formula 1 history and immediately scored six points. It is unclear whether Sainz, who was out for a short time due to an appendix operation, will be at the next Grand Prix in Australia in two weeks.