The Dutch anthem is back. Max returned to the top step of the podium for the first time since he became world champion. Now with Leclerc they are 1 to 1.
The back - to - back in Jeddah between twists and turns on the track goes to Max Verstappen, who started 4th. The battle between him and Leclerc, who doesn't come out defeated, is already history destined to last. The two respect each other and we expect to see them go to the limit on other occasions as well. Sainz 3rd will still be investigated for failing to comply with the double yellow flag regime. Perez was tricked by a Safety Car and finished 4th.
Let's see what happened in Jeddah, in the second round of the 2022 Formula 1 season.
COUPLE THERAPY IN ALPINE
On the one hand a two-time world champion who wants to go back to fighting for victories, on the other a young boy who still has everything to prove and little time to establish himself on the scene. We're not used to seeing such heated fights at home. Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon blatantly took the stage as husband and wife would in a slightly more heated argument. Both want the scene and want to be able to dictate the law in the team that does not immediately manage the tension between the two. On a circuit like this, however, the risk is almost unacceptable. Their long-drawn-out exchange of positions as well as destroying the tires brings the rest of the group closer as they wait for the perfect opportunity to attack “the two litigants”. This fratricidal fight has distracted the two from the closest objective, that is to go and get whoever is ahead.
LATIFI FROM, LATIFI TAKES OUT
You know, in Jeddah, the slightest mistake pays off, and Latifi now has an open account.
The first to stop for the pit stop is Sergio Perez. Charles, second, is instructed to do the opposite of what the Mexican from Red Bull does, so he stays out. Immediately after Perez's pit stop the yellow flag is displayed: Latifi against the wall, like a few months ago in Abu Dhabi. Everyone else then takes their chance and stops. Once again Nicholas unknowingly decides the race of the driver on command. Only this time instead of a Mercedes there's a Red Bull involved.
At the restart, Leclerc is in the lead, followed by Verstappen and Sainz, followed by Perez who has slipped disastrously into 4th position.
In just over 10 minutes the scenario changed radically. It is appropriate to say "whoever rejoices in Latifi perishes"
HAMMERTIME IS BACK
From a weekend that started disastrously, eliminated in Q1 and starting 15th necessarily with white tyres, Lewis Hamilton has gradually built his race on a circuit where overtaking always involves some risk. With a car that is currently subpar compared to those of his opponents, Lewis manages to finish immediately behind his young teammate, already labeled a "usurper of the throne". When you have a non-performing car, it's hard for everyone, but once the visor is pulled down, the commiseration ends and the ascent begins. Lewis was put to the test without even a pit stop by the second Virtual Safety Car of the day caused by the double retirement of Alonso and Ricciardo at the entrance to the pit lane, which was therefore closed to the others. He will only be able to make his stop with 9 laps to go and finish in 10th position.
3 WITHDRAWALS IN JUST 10 SECONDS
No Power no power, says Fernando Alonso who is slowly being forced to take his single-seater to the pits after putting on a show in Jeddah. It's the first time since pre-season testing, where we've seen reliability issues hit an Alpine car. Immediately after this solo lap, however, we find another car crashed at the beginning of the pit lane, that of Ricciardo. The shot cuts away and the image of Bottas' retirement also comes from the pits.
STILL, JUST THEM TWO
There are 7 laps left to go, and Leclerc and Verstappen are close, very close. There is no margin for error, the two start battling like in Bahrain. Once again the story wants to see them challenge each other. Red Bull is very fast but Charles is smart and tries to take an advantage where he can, also fighting for the fastest lap.
Max's chance comes 4 laps from the end. He hooks onto Leclerc's F1-75 who resisted the attack with all his might and flies towards his first victory of the season, also helped by a Virtual Safetty Car which did not allow the Monegasque to benefit from the DRS and thus attempt a counter attack on 2 laps to go.
Leclerc - Verstappen, both have a car to beat each other up, they know it but they still know how to recognize their own value and that of their opponent. The words of the two who have fun and amuse us in front of them also testify to it.
The order of arrival in Jeddah:
| 1 | 33 | M. Verstappen (D) | Red Bull | / |
| 2 | 16 | C. Leclerc (D) | Ferrari | + 0″2 |
| 3 | 55 | C. Sainz (D) | Ferrari | + 7″0 |
| 4 | 11 | S. Perez (F) | Red Bull | + 9″2 |
| 5 | 63 | G. Russell (D) | Mercedes | + 23″1 |
| 6 | 31 | E. Ocon (D) | Alpine | + 44″9 |
| 7 | 4 | L. Norris (D) | McLaren | + 45″7 |
| 8 | 10 | P. Gasly (D) | Alpha Tauri | + 50″2 |
| 9 | 20 | K. Magnussen (D) | Haas | + 58″1 |
| 10 | 44 | L. Hamilton (M) | Mercedes | + 61″5 |
| 11 | 24 | G. Zhou (D) | Alfa Romeo | + 74″8 |
| 12 | 27 | N. Hulkenberg (D) | Aston Martin | + 43″9 |
| 13 | 18 | L. Stroll (D) | Aston Martin | + 1 turn |
| 14 | 23 | A. Albon (D) | Williams | TRANSPORT |
| 15 | 77 | V. Bottas (M) | Alfa Romeo | TRANSPORT |
| 16 | 3 | D. Ricciardo (D) | McLaren | TRANSPORT |
| 17 | 14 | F. Alonso (F) | Alpine | TRANSPORT |
| 18 | 6 | N. Latifi (M) | Williams | TRANSPORT |
| 19 | 22 | Y.Tsunoda | Alpha Tauri | TRANSPORT |
