presented by
2027 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1931 1930 1929 1927 1925 1923 1922 1921 1914 1913 1912
Saudi Arabian GP
Bahrain GP
Saudi Arabian GP
Australian GP Azerbaijan GP Miami GP Emilia Romagna GP Monaco GP Spanish GP Canadian GP Austrian GP British GP Hungarian GP Belgian GP Dutch GP Italian GP Singapore GP Japanese GP Qatar GP United States GP Mexico City GP Brazilian GP Las Vegas GP Abu Dhabi GP
2023 Formula 1 Saudi Arabian GP
Mar 16, 2023 to Mar 19, 2023
| Jeddah Street Circuit, SA
Overview Live Commentary Results News Videos
Live text
Formula 1 Saudi Arabian GP
F1 Saudi Arabian GP Live Commentary and Updates – Race
Minute-by-minute updates for the 2023 Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Live
Chat
Live Standings
presented by
Stopped
Summary
-
Summary
- Perez wins the Saudi Arabian GP from Red Bull team-mate Verstappen
- The Dutchman finishes second having started 15th, but benefitted from an early safety car after Stroll stops on track
- Alonso finishes third but is penalised post-race to drop to fourth and pushes Russell on to the podium
- Alonso, who was penalised for being out of his grid slot at the start, given a 10-second post-race penalty for not serving his initial penalty correctly
- Hamilton finishes fifth, with the Ferraris of Sainz and Leclerc completing the top seven
-
Leaderboard
- Perez, Red Bull
- Verstappen, Red Bull
- Russell, Mercedes
- Alonso, Aston Martin
- Hamilton, Mercedes
- Sainz, Ferrari
- Leclerc, Ferrari
- Ocon, Alpine
- Gasly, Alpine
- Magnussen, Haas
View more Show Less
Live Text
Sort by Oldest first Newest first
Checkered flag
03:04:05 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
There is plenty more to come, as F1 heads to Australia in two weeks for another bonza weekend at Albert Park. Until then, have a lovely rest of your Sunday. Go well!
02:59:33 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
So, two races down, two Red Bull 1-2s... and hard luck to Alonso who is denied his 100th F1 podium despite celebrating it before his penalty came in.
Breaking news
02:53:49 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
Here's the full Saudi Arabian GP report, including the Alonso post-race penalty: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f1-saudi-arabian-gp-perez-cruises-to-red-bull-1-2-as-penalty-denies-alonso-podium/10446042/
02:52:15 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
It could have been even worse for Alonso, as the new results put him fourth and just 0.3s ahead of Hamilton in fifth.
02:50:38 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
It appears the rear jackman touched Alonso's car too soon while he was serving his five-second penalty picked up for his incorrect grid slot, so it is a straightforward penalty if truth be told.
Penalty
02:46:22 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
Alonso loses his podium! The 10-second penalty has been delivered and he drops to fourth in the final results!
02:43:04 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
The FIA stewards are investigating Alonso for serving his penalty incorrectly. Last time out Ocon got a 10-second penalty for the same offence, so if he is found guilty he could still lose his 100th F1 podium.
02:40:57 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
Still, it is the Mexican national anthem that plays on the podium, for the fifth time in Perez's career. Four of his five F1 wins have come on street circuits.
02:39:01 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
In the cooldown room Perez asks Verstappen if he went for fastest lap at the end of the race, which he confirms. The pair share glances, it looks like Perez wasn't too happy with that. It did cost him the championship lead, after all.
Quote
02:35:28 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
Verstappen on his 15th to 2nd charge: "It wasn't easy to get through the field. In the first sector at the start it was difficult and I was sliding around. We settled for second [after the driveshaft issue] so a good recovery in the end."
Quote
02:33:47 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
Alonso on third place and his 100th F1 podium: "What a start to the season, unthinkable a month ago. These guys have made a fantastic car and a fantastic strategy. I need to review [the start] as I made a mistake."
Quote
02:32:21 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
"It turned out to be tougher than expected. The safety car tried to take the victory from us again here, but not this year," Perez tells David Coulthard in the top three interviews.
02:31:11 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
Tsunoda just misses out on the points in 11th, ahead of Hulkenberg, Zhou, de Vries, Piastri, Sargeant, Norris and Bottas. Just two retirements: Albon and Stroll.
02:28:59 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
Russell in fourth leads home Mercedes team-mate Hamilton in fifth, with Sainz in sixth and Leclerc seventh for Ferrari. The two-by-twos continue, with Ocon eighth and Gasly ninth for Alpine. Magnussen rounds out the points in 10th for Haas.
02:26:59 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
Sargeant just about manages to hold off Norris at the last moment!
02:26:56 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
Alonso completes the podium, his 100th F1 career rostrum, and he finishes 5.1s ahead of Russell so even if a penalty is incoming he should keep hold of third.
02:26:01 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
Piastri makes it past Sargeant for 15th
Checkered flag
02:25:45 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
But it doesn't stop Perez from winning the 2023 Saudi Arabian GP! It is a Red Bull 1-2 and Verstappen does take the fastest lap bonus point to keep the championship lead!
02:24:29 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
Final lap time, and Verstappen is setting fastest mini sector times...
Quote
02:23:54 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
"It'd be nice to be five seconds clear of Russell, but we think we are all clean," Alonso is told on Aston Martin team radio. Maybe they also suspect a penalty incoming?
02:22:52 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
Further back the gaps have stabilised, but Russell is keeping within five seconds of Alonso as his Mercedes team suspect the Spaniard might get a five-second penalty. For what is a guess at this stage.
02:22:30 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
Piastri is allowed to pass Norris and set about Sargeant - it's battle of the rookies for 15th
02:21:09 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
For the record, Perez has the fastest lap as it stands, while Verstappen needs to find a tenth on his personal best lap in this race to take it off him.
02:19:29 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
Magnussen snatches 10th from a frustrated Tsunoda
02:18:54 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
Is the game up for Verstappen? His pace has dipped, the gap is 5.5s now, and he's focused on trying to get the fastest lap.
02:17:42 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
Nice little wheel-to-wheel battle at the back of the field from those McLarens there
02:16:17 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
Perez keeps asking why Red Bull is pushing so hard, he has a point given its reliability worries and its healthy gap over Alonso in third, but the pace remains hot in the fight for victory.
02:14:45 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
Perez leads by 4.3s, but he's keeping guard against Verstappen. As it stands the Mexican will go to the top of the standings by virtue of having the fastest lap bonus point.
02:12:40 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
De Vries dives down the inside of Sargeant at the last corner and forces the Williams to defend from Norris on the straight
02:11:57 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
Perez is told by the team it is happy with his brake pedal despite there being a bit of wear. Tis but a scratch, Sergio.
Quote
02:10:00 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
"I'm having a bit of a long brake pedal," Perez reports. It's all happening, even if from the outside it looks like a supreme performance from Red Bull. 10 laps to go.
02:08:43 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
Verstappen is voicing his concern again about the driveshaft issue on team radio but he is being assured all is OK for now. Both his and Perez's pace is rapid, but is the car a little fragile?
Quote
02:06:46 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
"I feel like this driveshaft is running a bit rough," Verstappen says over team radio. "It's just the B-Bal offset that's left, Max. Can't do anything on the B-bal map itself." B-bal is brake balance, apparently, so a few mixed messages there.
02:06:33 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
Zhou makes the move on Sargeant at Turn 1 for 13th place, with de Vries closing in behind the Williams
02:04:42 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
Verstappen takes four-tenths out of Perez's lead and then the Mexican adds back a tenth on the next lap. Both of them are over a second faster than anyone else on track.
02:03:26 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
Bottas pits from 18th for a new set of soft tyres
02:03:12 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
Hamilton has dropped off the back of Russell now, 2.6s off his team-mate in the fight for fourth, as this race begins its stand-off stage, waiting to see who blinks first.
02:01:28 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
Credit to Perez, he is still matching Verstappen's pace to keep his lead at 4.8s with 15 laps to go.
01:59:48 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
After the frantic start, this race is starting to mirror how the Bahrain GP played out. Red Bull 1-2 clearing off in the distance (granted, the other way around), Alonso fighting for the podium ahead of Mercedes and Ferrari cars...
01:59:12 pm
Copy link
Share on Viber
Leclerc on the radio: "Being behind like this is really ****. I don't know what to do."
Pagination
1
2
3
...
4
By: Autosport Staff
Published: Mar 19, 2023, 7:04 PM
Lap:
Copy link
Share on Viber