WINNERS AND LOSSERS: Who did well under the lights at the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix?

The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was a testomony to absolutely the dominance of a Purple Bull group that appeared to have constructed one of many biggest F1 race vehicles of all time. Whereas this was a irritating race for some rivals, there have been sprouts of hope for others. We chosen six winners and 5 losers from Jeddah.

Winner: Sergio Perez

It was essentially the most spectacular victory in Sergio Perez’s essential F1 profession, and it was really the Grand Prix weekend.

When teammate Max Verstappen had a propeller shaft downside in qualifying, Perez, who had led the weekend as much as that time, stepped up and helped Purple Bull win pole place.

The Mexican walked across the entrance of the sphere. He was calm when his benefit was knocked out by a Security Automobile, and he impressively met Verstappen’s late push to assert his first win of the season.

READ MORE: Perez particulars ‘intense’ ultimate after beating Verstappen to win in Jeddah

This was the primary time Verstappen received a race in second place, including his fifth profession victory to his second place within the inaugural race, putting second just one level behind Verstappen within the drivers’ championship.

Losers: McLaren

McLaren’s painful begin to the season continued in Saudi Arabia and shortly grew to become a distant reminiscence when Oscar Piastri made opening-round contact with Pierre Gasly.

This pressured the Australian to cease on the finish of the lap, whereas the wreckage of that occasion bought in the best way of teammate Lando Norris, breaking the Briton’s entrance wing and forcing him to cease.

HIGHLIGHTS: Watch the motion from an thrilling Saudi Arabian Grand Prix as Perez takes a 1-2 lead over Purple Bull

After that, it grew to become an extended take a look at session for the English group, which is without doubt one of the solely two groups which have but to attain within the builders’ championship and have but to attain a aim this yr.

Winner: Max Verstappen

Lower than a win is usually unacceptable for Verstappen, however contemplating he took fifteenth place after a mechanical downside, I feel he’ll take second place this time round.

It was his 79th profession podium, one in need of legendary Ayrton Senna’s tally, and his twenty first consecutive end – the longest ongoing lively successful streak, he was so relentlessly environment friendly and dependable.

READ MORE: “I am not right here to complete second” – Verstappen urges Purple Bull to unravel the reliability gremlins plaguing the group in Jeddah

He’ll be happy to get the quickest lap within the closing levels, because it means he holds the championship lead.

Loser: Alex Albon

Alex Albon felt he hadn’t fairly accomplished the qualifying, however was optimistic for Sunday given Williams’ stronger race tempo.

And within the early levels of the race, a second consecutive high 10 end appeared doubtless whereas the Thai made the many of the driver’s package deal.

Nonetheless, a mechanical braking downside pressured his retirement, and teammate Logan Sargeant completed sixteenth, whereas Williams left Jeddah empty-handed.

Winner: Fernando Alonso

Fernando Alonso is acknowledged as a lead actor and sensationally lived as much as this invoice with an excellent efficiency in Jeddah.

READ MORE: “Happy with end result” – Alonso relieved after regaining one centesimal profession podium in Jeddah

He led the opening lap of a Grand Prix for the primary time in practically 11 years when he handed Perez and entered Flip 1, retaining his head straight when he was instructed he was given a five-second time penalty for beginning the race outdoors of his place. grid slot.

The Spaniard misplaced his podium resulting from a penalty given by the officers shortly after the race, however that penalty was overturned, his first consecutive podium end since 2013.

It was additionally his one centesimal profession podium, making him solely the sixth driver to attain this feat, after Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel, Alain Prost and Kimi Raikkonen.

Loser: Lance Stroll

Lance Stroll’s passing Carlos Sainz was spectacular, however we by no means bought an opportunity to see what was potential after an power restoration downside interrupted the race after simply 18 laps.

MONDAY MORNING INFORMATION: How Jeddah highlights the fascinating battle between Aston Martin, Ferrari and Mercedes

The Canadian hasn’t had the tempo to match teammate Alonso all weekend, however he is nonetheless recovering from two damaged wrists and a damaged toe he suffered just some weeks in the past.

Winner: George Russell

Whereas George Russell needed to return the third-place trophy to Alonso—the Spaniard held the trophy whereas he was briefly penalized after the race—the British driver can nonetheless view the Sunday afternoon as a job nicely accomplished.

The Mercedes driver had tempo to maintain up with Alonso all through the Grand Prix, whereas additionally comfortably outpacing each Ferraris. P4 was end result, though he would have wished to attain considerably greater outcomes given the struggles his group is at present going by way of.

READ MORE: Russell calls Jeddah drive ‘one among my strongest weekends in F1’ regardless of third P3 loss to Alonso

Loser: Yuki Tsunoda

Yuki Tsunoda’s performances up to now this season have been neglected, with the Japanese driver shedding in his loss of life when he was overtaken by Kevin Magnussen within the season’s first spot.

Meaning the AlphaTauri racer completed each races this season in eleventh place in one of many slowest vehicles on the course. He simply surpasses his teammate Nyck de Vries.

READ MORE: FIA to launch guidelines assertion forward of Australian Grand Prix following Alonso’s podium drama in Jeddah

Winners: Alpine

With out incident, it aptly describes Alpine’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, however that is precisely what Esteban Ocon may have needed after the penalty-filled season opener in Bahrain.

The Frenchman took the throne with eighth place (who coincidentally had his lowest end in three begins in Jeddah), one place greater than his teammate Pierre Gasly, who began 2023 with 100% factors.

Losers: Ferrari

It was a sobering weekend for Ferrari, who began with a sequence of powertrain part adjustments, one among which resulted in a grid penalty for Charles Leclerc, and completed because the fourth quickest group.

Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc did not have an opportunity to pit in entrance of the Security Automobile as their Mercedes rivals might cease cheaply, however finally did not have the velocity to compete on the innovative.

READ MORE: ‘There was no extra within the automobile’ – Leclerc urges Ferrari to enhance ‘loads’, with seventh place end in Jeddah

Leclerc however beat the aim by ending seventh – making an attempt to attain factors by beginning on comfortable floor, whereas Sainz’s second rating places him fourth within the standings.

Winner: Kevin Magnussen

Kevin Magnussen recorded his and Haas’ first factors of the season with a troublesome drive to tenth.

The Danish driver got here again with nice confidence after he was defeated within the second race in a row by teammate Nico Hulkenberg in qualifying.

Haas was a lot kinder on its tires in Saudi Arabia and the group discovered good order early within the weekend – each boding nicely for the upcoming races.

READ MORE: What the groups stated – race day in Saudi Arabia