JIDDAH, Saudi Arabia – Formula One Champion Max Verstappen beat Charles Leclerc three laps from the end of Saudi Arabia grand opening for his first win of the season and his 21st 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 straight wins after winning the season-opening championship in Bahrain last Sunday, but Verstappen overtook him in Round 47/50 after some gritty wheel races between them.
Leclerc is still at the top of the rankings after two races.
Carlos Sainz Jr finished in third to add another double to it Ferrari after he finished second in Bahrain, where Leclerc brilliantly repelled three attacks from Verstappen, who Retirement near the end of that race with teammate Sergio Perez.
Perez came back with an extremely excellent place on Saturday but finished fourth, while seven times F1 champion Lewis Hamilton can only manage one point for Mercedes in 10th place after starting 15th.
His teammate George Russell had a better result in fifth but Mercedes was off course.
Related videos:
