The Saudi Arabian GP as it happened

By: Jake Boxall-Legge, Haydn Cobb, Megan White

Summary

Max Verstappen wins the F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after fierce battle with Charles Leclerc
Closest winning margin since Italian Grand Prix 2020 - 0.425s
Sainz finishes third for Ferrari double podium with Perez fourth
Ricciardo and Alonso both suffered mechanical failures, ending their races, while Bottas retired for Alfa Romeo
Latifi crashes out at Turn 27

Leaderboard

Verstappen, Red Bull
Leclerc, Ferrari
Sainz, Ferrari
Perez, Red Bull
Russell, Mercedes
Ocon, Alpine
Norris, McLaren
Gasly, AlphaTauri
Magnussen, Haas
Hamilton, Mercedes

Status: Stopped

20:58 And that's all from us! Thanks so much for joining us this evening - we'll be back in a couple of weeks for the Australian GP! See you then.

20:56

Here's the report from a thrilling battle for victory in Saudi Arabia:

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f1-saudi-arabian-gp-race-report/9375452/

20:51 F1 hasn't visited Albert Park since, you know, the last time. Where all the stuff happened. Let's hope that, when F1 returns to Australia, none of that happens again.

20:50

20:46 We're only two races in, but it looks as though the Leclerc and Verstappen battle is hotting up as our main title fight - can battle be joined by Sainz, Perez, or perhaps a third party? Australia's next up in two weeks' time - for the first time since 2019.

20:40 Replay of a thumbs-up from Leclerc to Verstappen at the finish - it looks like the two really enjoyed that fight. Sainz joins them on the podium, albeit awaiting whatever call's made on the yellow flags.

20:34 "Lap 49 and 50: double yellow under investigation" - is the FIA now investigating itself?

20:33 Now, we've got investigations for Magnussen, Sainz and Perez for apparently failing to slow properly for yellow flags.

20:33

20:31 Zhou misses out on points in 11th, beating the two Aston Martins home. Just 13 finishers in this race.

20:30 Gasly gets eighth place, Magnussen takes ninth, and Hamilton rescues a point in 10th place.

20:30 What a battle! Sainz finishes third, Perez fourth, Russell fifth, and Ocon JUST holds off from Norris for sixth place!

20:29 Half a second! Max Verstappen wins the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, half a second ahead of Charles Leclerc!

20:27 Leclerc has DRS as the final lap begins, but he's too far behind to make the move. He's running out of chances to get the lead back from Verstappen...

20:27 Stroll vs Albon will be investigated by the stewards after the race. Stroll has damage and has dropped to 13th and last place.

20:26 Stroll and Albon have come together at Turn 1 which caused those yellow flags. Albon sticks it up the inside but the door gets shut and the pair clash. Albon has pulled to the side of the track and won't finish the race.

20:26 At the worst moment, there's a yellow flag at Turn 1, which meant Leclerc didn't have DRS! Verstappen was just half a second up the road, so hangs on to the lead.

20:24 Does Leclerc have anything in his locker in this final three laps? He's not letting this go...

20:24 Unless something wild happens, there won't be enough laps left for Magnussen and Hamilton to climb any higher than ninth and 10th respectively.

20:23 And with free air, Verstappen punches in a 1m31.779s - four tenths faster than Leclerc - to cement a very handy advantage.