LEWIS HAMILTON has won an action-packed Saudi Arabian Grand Prix to take the Driver’s Championship to the final week.
On a day where there were two red flags and numerous other minor incidents, it was all about Hamilton and Max Verstappen at the front.
And things came to a head when the pair COLLIDED late in the race, with Verstappen looking to yield his place on the straight but the Brit unaware of his intentions.
A five-second penalty meant that Verstappen was unable to pull back the Mercedes star and it’s now all eyes on Abu Dhabi.
The pair will head into the final race on the SAME points – it’s all up for grabs.
- Result: 1st Hamilton 2nd Verstappen 3rd Bottas 4th Ocon
Follow ALL the action with our live blog below…
‘CRAZY’
Lewis Hamilton suggested Red Bull rival Max Verstappen drives over the limit after his action-packed win in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Hamilton said: “For me I really had to try and keep my cool out there which was really difficult to do.
“I have raced a lot of drivers through my life in 28 years and I have come across a lot of different characters.
“There’s a few at the top which are over the limit, rules don’t apply or don’t think of the rules.
“I just try to do my talking on the track and keep the car between the white lines and do it the right way.
“There were so many crazy curb walls and then he obviously brake tested I think to try and get the DRS into the last corner to overtake me again going into turn one.
“Does Max fall into that category…He is over the limit for sure. I have avoided collisions on so many occasions with the guy and I don’t know in his mind being the one who does that. But you fight to live another day which I did”
GETTY IMAGES VERSTAPPEN ON COLLISSION
Max Verstappen discussed his side of events involving the collision with Lewis Hamilton in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Verstappen said: “At one point he ran into my back.
“I was looking into my mirror waiting for him to pass. They told me to give him the position. The whole season has been up and down, good moments and bad moments.
“[Abu Dhabi] is going to be exciting – I just try to do the best I can”
WOLFF ADDED
“Credit to Race Control, it’s difficult to manage.
“I need to reserve judgement, I need to see the race more before I say anything that maybe isn’t right.
“It’s really the driving that needs to be assessed and looked at. It’s hard, really hard, maybe too hard. We just want the best man to win and if it’s Max [Verstappen] at the end so be it.
“Everybody has had their fair share of bad luck, Max lost points at Silverstone, wasn’t at all to blame in Hungary. Then we’ve had engine penalties…”
MORE FROM WOLFF
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff praised the race directors on their attempts to manage a wild event.
“We’re biased, obviously from our side there was frustration [after the first red flag]. I need to reserve judgement, see the race again tomorrow.
“It’s really [Max Verstappen’s] driving that needs to be assessed and looked at. It’s hard, really hard, maybe over-the-line hard.
“We just want a clean championship. If it’s Max [who wins], I’ll make peace with that. But we just want it to be [fair]”
WOLFF ON COLLISSION
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff addressed the collision between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.
Wolff said: “The telemetry shows that [Verstappen] was slowing down, then accelerating again, then slowing down.
“No, [Hamilton] didn’t know [Verstappen was supposed to let him past], and I think that [was due to] the wrong sequence of messages coming through there.
“I don’t remember, honestly. It was so intense, the sequence of events. I think it could have been confusion, absolutely, but the stewards will look precisely at the telemetry and come to a judgement.
“If the drivers were not informed properly, that’s going to play a big role”
GETTY IMAGES HORNER REACTS
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner suggested that Mercedes star Lewis Hamilton was “messing around” as he collided with Max Verstappen at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Horner told Sky Sports: “Max was trying to give the place up. We informed race control that we were going to give the place up and Max was lifting off. I think Lewis was lifting off.
“I don’t know if [Hamilton] was messing around looking for the DRS line. It was clear that we had given the place up.
“It’s weird because Lewis is slowing down behind him, it sounds like he’s lifting off.
“It was like [Hamilton] didn’t want to pass him because of the DRS. We were trying to give the place up and Lewis then drives up the back of Max’s car.
“We’ve picked up quite a bit of damage from that. Very, very frustrating”
WOLFF REACTS
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff insists Lewis Hamilton “deserved” the victory in the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix.
Wolff said: “The result at the end, winning the race, I think he deserved it.
“I don’t want to now have dirty laundry here but what the telemetry shows is that [Max Verstappen] is slowing down and speeds off again.
“Hamilton didn’t know [he was being given the place]”
BOTTAS REACTS
Mercedes star Valtteri Bottas finished third in the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix and admits it was “not an easy day”.
Bottas said: “Not an easy day, the first red flag being on the hard tyre [for the restart] was a mistake.
“It wasn’t easy to overtake but finally on the last lap I got third.
“It’s a big challenge physically and mentally”
PODIUM TIME
Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas took their place in second and third respectively on the podium.
And on top of it all stands Mercedes superstar Lewis Hamilton after is incedible victory in Saudi Arabia.
Hamilton and Verstappen are level on points and it will all come to a head in Abu Dhabi
GETTY IMAGES GETTY IMAGES GETTY IMAGES
HAMILTON REACTS
Mercedes superstar Lewis Hamilton praised his team after an incredible victory in Saudi Arabia.
Hamilton said: “That was incredibly tough.
“I tried to be as sensible as I could be, with all my race experience over the years, just keeping the car on track and staying clean.
“I’m really proud of everyone and grateful for the car this weekend.
“I didn’t quite understand why he hit the brakes so heavily, and then I ran into the back of him, and then he drove off so it was a bit confusing”
VERSTAPPEN REACTS
Red Bull star Max Verstappen is looking forward to the Abu Dhabi race where it will all be decided.
Verstappen said after the race: “Yeah, it was quite eventful.
“A lot of things happened that I don’t fully agree with, but I gave it my all.
“It will be decided [in Abu Dhabi] so hopefully we’ll have a good weekend, we’ll see”
LEADERBOARD
Mercedes superstar Lewis Hamilton finished first in the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix.
Red Bull rival Max Verstappen followed behind in second with Hamilton’s team-mate Valtteri Bottas third.
Alpine’s Esteban Ocon and McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo completed the top five.
More below:
REACTION
Hamilton kept his head and handled the pressure brilliantly. He did not let up and even after colliding with his rival remained cool and got the overtake.
Hamilton said: “Great job guys, great job. That’s more like it. Let’s keep pushing!”
Verstappen said: “It is what it is mate. I tried.”
ALL LEVEL
Hamilton’s win and fastest lap means he and Verstappen head to Abu Dhabi LEVEL on points.
HAMILTON WINS!
The inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix has been thrilling from first minute to last.
Verstappen finishes second and Bottas pips Ocon to third right on the finish line!
A great day for Mercedes but certainly a stressful one. Team principal Toto Wolff has been tearing his hair out all evening.
LAP 49/50
Bottas desperately trying to sneak past Ocon but he may have left it too late.
Ocon the fastest of anyone through the first sector. It looks like he will hold onto third.
LAP 48/50
Mercedes think Verstappen is in trouble on his tyres – the Dutchman is nursing his way to the end and now EIGHT seconds behind Hamilton.
LAP 47/50
Hamilton has been warned to steer clear of the curbs.
He is still setting a blistering pace but Verstappen is slowing on old tyres.
Meanwhile, Ocon and Bottas are battling for a podium place – the gap between those two is under a second.
LAP 46/50
Meanwhile, Hamilton continues to get faster and faster despite the damaged win.
He once again records the fastest lap that should be enough to give him the extra point.
LAP 45/50
Verstappen could need to pit and that, plus the five second penalty, could even allow Ocon to overtake.
So much drama left to unfold in Jeddah…
LAP 44/50
Hamilton leads with six laps remaining and has the five second advantage over Verstappen due to the Red Bull man’s penalty.
Verstappen let Hamilton through when he didn’t need to…
LAP 43/50
HAMILTON TAKES THE LEAD!
LAP 43/50
Time penalty for Verstappen.
He left the track to retake his lead so has been given a five second penalty by the race stewards.
It is the first time they have got involved.
LAP 43/50
Hamilton slowed behind Verstappen during the incident – he clearly did not know he was being allowed to overtake.
Meanwhile, the Red Bull leader yet Hamilton pass and immediately retook his lead.
LAP 41/50
Mercedes complain they did not have time to tell Hamilton he was being given his place back.
Hamilton was left confused and did not realise he was being allowed to overtake.
Ron Meadows to Race Control: “We had no idea he (Verstappen) was going to do that. You told me as it happened.”
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
