Saudi Arabia Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton’s Dramatic Victory Against Max Verstappen Ensures Winner ‘Takes it All’ in Abu Dhabi

Saudi Arabia Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton’s Dramatic Victory Against Max Verstappen Ensures Winner ‘Takes it All’ in Abu Dhabi

Saudi Arabia Grand Prix

The Saudi Arabia Grand Prix entailed for an exciting race, with Lewis Hamilton starting off in pole position in a Mercedes front row lockout. Max Verstappen was starting in third position after a disastrous crash made him lose out on the best lap in qualifying. Charles Leclerc was alongside Verstappen, and Perez was right behind, rounding off the top 5.

While the race got off to an expected start, but a crash from Mick Schumacher in lap 10 meant that everyone would be pitting. Verstappen however, decided to stay out, putting him in provision first place. The incident turned severe, and the yellow flag turned to a red flag, as all cars were told to line up to the pit lane, with Max Verstappen now in pole position.

The race restarted after 14 laps, with Verstappen on fresh hard tyres. After a formation lap the race was off to a standing start. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be, and as soon the lap started, it was stopped again as Russell, Mazepin and Perez were out of the race. Chaos gripped the Grand Prix and now after 16 laps Verstappen led the race with Ocon right behind and Hamilton in third.

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The starting order change once again after the red flag saw Ocon in the lead, with Hamilton in second place and Verstappen in third. As the lights went out once again, Verstappen took the lead, while Ocon slid down to second and Hamilton to third. Yet Hamilton and Verstappen continued to maintain the fastest times, and the distance between the two driver was maintained at around a second.

Saudi Arabia Grand Prix: Max Verstappen Under Investigation as Valtteri Bottas takes Dramatic Third Place Finish

Red Bull and Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen

Another crash saw Tsunoda crash into the barriers, and a virtual safety car was deployed once again. Hamilton continued to push Verstappen who lead the race. Another virtual safety car meant that over half the race had gone without a proper lap of racing.

Hard racing saw Hamilton try to overtake Verstappen twice, but it ended up in disaster for the Brit instead, as he crashed into the back of Verstappen and ended up damaging his front wing instead. In dramatic fashion, Verstappen got a five second time penalty for cutting the track and gaining unfair advantage. He ended up giving a place to Hamilton, which meant he lead the changed to Hamilton, while Verstappen had to slow down to preserve his tyres.

Despite a damaged front wing, Hamilton continued to set fastest laps and amazingly, Lewis Hamilton went ahead to win the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix. Max Verstappen had to settle for second place, even after pending an investigation. Right at the end, Bottas overtook Ocon to secure third place, while Ocon faced heartbreak. Ricciardo took fifth after a quiet race. Pierre Gasly took sixth, Charles Leclerc took seventh and Carlos Sainz finished in eighth for Ferrari. Antonio Giovinazzi took ninth and Lando Norris rounded off the top 10 for this race.

Charles Leclerc now stands fifth on the drivers championship, while Ferrari and Mercedes have extended their constructors championship lead. After a dramatic and long fought race, Hamilton and Verstappen are now on a level playing field going into the final race of the season. The Abu Dhabi will hold an extremely anticipated final Grand Prix that will decide the World Champion this year.

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