Max Verstappen-Charles Leclerc’s epic wheel-to-wheel tussle in Jeddah records closest race win since Italian GP 2020

Max Verstappen-Charles Leclerc’s epic wheel-to-wheel tussle in Jeddah records closest race win since Italian GP 2020

Max Verstappen vs Charles Leclerc

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won a hard-fought battle to win the 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The Dutchman started the race 4th in the grid behind the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. Teammate Sergio Perez finished 4th despite starting the race from Pole Position for the first time in his career.

The Dutchman crosses the line half a second ahead of Leclerc in a nail-biting finish. This is the closest finish to a Formula One race since the epic 2020 Italian Grand Prix where Pierre Gasly emerged victorious over a 0.415-second advantage over McLaren’s Sainz.

The new generation of cars has been designed to inhibit closer racing and more overtakes during the race to make the sport more exciting. The Saudi GP margin prompts fans to wonder how close the racing could be in future races.

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Max Verstappen wins the 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

Saudi Arabian GP 2022 podium
Saudi Arabian GP 2022 podium

Ahead of the 2022 season, Formula One introduced new regulations changes that will be focusing on improving the racing aspect of the sport. New regulations included changes in tyre size, monocoque, aerodynamics, power units and others. The impact of the changes has been acclaimed after fans were welcome to some close racing in the opening two races.

Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc went wheel-to-wheel in both Bahrain and Saudi Arabian GP. The two displayed close range aggressive driving, with the Monegasque emerging victorious in the first race and the Dutchman in the second.

Even backmarkers and midfield cars are enjoying the new cars. Alpine’s Esteban Ocon claimed he won the battle for P6 because he could fend off Mclarens Lando Norris in the new machinery. The Frenchman said, “If he would have been in this year’s car, I would have not been able to get him back. But you can follow so much easier now.”

Esteban also shared a fantastic battle with teammate and Formula One Veteran Fernando Alonso. The Spaniard made multiple attempts at the start of the race to overtake his teammate but Ocon managed to defend it valiantly. Maybe not Nando’s day, but the fans are surely enjoying the new breed of machinery and improved racing.

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