Reigning world champion Max Verstappen re-established his dominance in Formula 1 by registering his first win of 2022. The Red Bull driver overtook Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc with three laps three laps from the end of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix to bag 25 points. 

Leclerc, who led the most part of the race, missed out on a fourth career win, as Verstappen edged him by half a second. The Monaco driver still remains top of the standings after two races. He has 45 points, Carlos Sainz Jr. 33 and Verstappen 25.

Also read | Mick Schumacher ‘was hoping to race’ at Saudi Arabia GP after 170 mph crash at qualifying

Sainz was third as pole-sitter Sergio Perez came fourth. 

“Really happy we finally kick-started the season,” Verstappen said. “It was a really tough race but a good race. We were both battling hard at the front.”

“We’ve been pushing like I’ve rarely pushed before, we take risks. Of course there’s respect,” Leclerc said. “I really enjoyed that race, it was hard racing but fair. Every race should be like this. It was fun, I wanted to win today.”

Seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton could manage only one point for Mercedes in 10th place after starting 15th.

His teammate George Russell fared better in fifth but Mercedes again looked way off the pace.

Also read | Saudi Arabian GP: Hamilton shaky on performance in ‘undrivable’ Mercedes

Max Verstappen vs Chales Leclerc is the rivalry of 2022:

Two races into the season and F1 is already seeing a new rivalry develop in Verstappen and Leclerc. The two are third and first on the driver’s ranking respectively. Both, 24 years old, are rivals since their karting days. 

“Every battle is different,” Verstappen said. “It’s just smart racing and good racing. It was not easy but a lot of fun.”

On Sunday, Max Verstappen overtook Leclerc at the end of Lap 42. However, the Ferrari dived straight back on turn one of the next back. The Red Bull driver then had another go on Lap 44 but finally succeeded to overtake on Lap 47 with a clean pass.

At Bahrain, the two were wheel to wheel before Verstappen had to retire from the race. 

Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes are in a problem:

One major reason for Ferrari and Red Bull being the top two teams is Mercedes’ dusty state in the first two races. 

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton started from 15th, and would have been 16th if Mick Schumacher had raced.

The weekend was Hamilton’s worst performance in qualifying since 2017, when he failed to make it out of the first round of qualifying — Q1 — at the Brazilian GP. 

He finished 10th. Hamilton’s post-race radio message questioning “is there even a point for that position” summed up his week. 

Is Saudi Arabia safe?

A missile flew into an oil depot about 11 kilometers (seven miles) away from the track and discussions among Formula One teams and drivers switched from human rights to personal safety.

The big question: Was it safe to remain in Jeddah and compete in the second race of the F1 season after Friday’s attack?

Emergency meetings were held long into the night before the decision to race was confirmed at noon on Saturday. 

The attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels targeted the North Jiddah Bulk Plant, just southeast of the city’s international airport, where F1 fans flew in for Saudi GP. It came two weeks after 81 people were put to death in Saudi Arabia in the kingdom’s biggest mass execution.