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LEWIS HAMILTON had a simple message after a missile strike threatened to cancel Sunday’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. A terrorist attack at an oil depot 10 miles from Jeddah’s Corniche circuit led to talks between drivers and F1 chiefs about the status of the race, with many in favour of calling it off.
Hamilton revealed he was “so happy” to be going home after a turbulent weekend in JeddahCredit: Rex
A missile strike hit an oil depot just a matter of miles from the F1 circuitCredit: Splash
Drivers were eventually persuaded that the race was safe to go ahead after a four-hour meeting, with Hamilton reported to be one of those angling for it to be cancelled.
But after being forced to take to the track the 37-year-old couldn’t wait to finally head home after finishing tenth on Sunday.
Speaking after a turbulent few days, as per the Guardian, he said: “I am so happy the weekend is done.
“I am so happy that everyone is safe, I am just looking forward to getting out. I just want to go home.”
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Talks will now be held between drivers and F1 bosses regarding the future of the Saudi Arabian GP, according to the Daily Mail.
But the race in Jeddah is extremely lucrative to the company – claimed to be worth £50million-a-year.
And F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali responded to the criticism for pressing ahead with the race, despite the safety fears.
He told Sky Sports: “No one can judge our morality, to be honest… Where is the line? That is the question.
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“Our position, and it will always be, is we believe what we’re doing will have a very positive impact in all the political situations… and at all levels. 
“This will always be the consideration we will take for our future in the sport, all over the world.”
Talks between drivers and bosses over the future of the Saudi Arabian GP are set to take place in the coming days over video call, or at the Melbourne GP in two weeks.
But Hamilton’s fellow Brit Lando Norris also revealed his concerns about bringing the F1 calendar back to Jeddah.
He said: “I am relieved to have got through the weekend.
“All we want to do is race. But it is a nervous place to be as a driver and that is why we had the talks we did. We were given reassurances and told it is safe, and we had to believe that.
“Whether we come back or not? I would love to because it is a fun track, but those are discussions we will have after the weekend.” More

PIERRE GASLY has revealed he felt like he was “getting stabbed” in the stomach towards the end of the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix.The AlphaTauri driver, 26, claimed his first points of the season with an eighth place finish on Sunday.
Gasly revealed his stomach pain after the raceCredit: Getty
The Frenchman secured four more points for AlphaTauriCredit: Getty
But since then he has confirmed the horrific pain he was experiencing for the last third of the race.
Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: “The last 15 laps I’ve never had that much pain, I don’t know what happened in my intestine.
“The last 10 laps was like getting stabbed every left corner, the most painful laps I’ve had so I don’t know what’s happened.
“Anyway I’m just happy the race is over and happy we got these points.
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“I’ve seen him [the doctor] already, we’ll see after, I don’t know what it is but it was not a nice feeling.
“It was more like surviving rather than anything else. But we’ll see what’s happened.”
Reigning world champion Max Verstappen claimed his first victory of the 2022 season after overtaking Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc late on in Saudi Arabia.
Leclerc still managed second place to go with his victory in Bahrain – meaning he already has a 12-point lead in the drivers’ standings.
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The Monegasque’s Ferrari team-mate Carlos Sainz took the third step on the podium ahead of Verstappen’s Red Bull partner Sergio Perez.
Mercedes’ George Russell took fifth place, but it was a difficult day for seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton.
The Brit finished way down in 10th, just 24 hours after being dumped out in Q1 of qualifying. More

LEWIS HAMILTON finished so far behind the leaders in the Saudi Arabian GP – he didn’t even know if he scored points for tenth place.The seven-time world champion fears he will not be battling Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc for the title this season.
Lewis Hamilton battled it out with 2021 whipping boys Haas and finished tenth in Saudi ArabiaCredit: Getty

Instead, he will be slugging it out with minnows Haas, who finished last in the championship in 2021 and only called up Kevin Magnussen at the 11th hour to replace axed Russian Nikita Mazepin.
Hamilton was issued an apology by his race engineer.
As he crossed the finish line in Jeddah, Peter ‘Bono’ Bonnington said: “OK Lewis, that’s P10. Sorry about that.”
Hamilton replied: “Is there even a point for that position?”
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Sun;font-size:24px;line-height:1.1666666666666667;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:semi-condensed;padding:1px 0px;}.css-1x7hydu::before{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-bottom:calc(-0.24520833333333342em + -0.5px);}.css-1x7hydu::after{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-top:-0.2333333333333334em;}.css-1lobn43{display:inline;font:inherit;margin:0;color:rgba(0,0,0,1);}.css-1lobn43 svg{fill:rgba(0,0,0,1);}READ MORE.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-gmec1d{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;height:auto;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-align-content:center;-ms-flex-line-pack:center;align-content:center;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:flex-start;justify-content:flex-start;margin-left:calc(-20px/2);margin-right:calc(-20px/2);}.css-fh9577{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-left:calc(20px/2);margin-right:calc(20px/2);}.css-65fvqt{max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-h98a3b{box-sizing:border-box;overflow:hidden;background-color:rgba(236,245,247,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;position:relative;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-bk55po{box-sizing:border-box;display:block;position:relative;margin-bottom:0;}.css-1shocxe{box-sizing:border-box;}.css-1a2irou{box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;}.css-1a2irou 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.nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24:before{content:”;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;z-index:1;}.css-xpuujo{border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(149,199,208,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-tqcu81{padding:0;border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(149,199,208,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-124tga5{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-5jzxpx{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-bq4915{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,97,108,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-bq4915:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}FAR, FAR AWAY .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Watch Hamilton look totally demoralised as star admits ‘we’re so far off top’
Indeed there is, but only one point and he sits in fifth place in the drivers’ championship – 29 points off the leader Leclerc.
Hamilton said: “Right now, we’re not fighting for the top step. We’re so far off the guys up ahead. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”
When asked how far away, he added: “It feels like a long way away. We’re still really down on speed. It’s not just one fix, it’s several things.
“I don’t really know but I’ll have to speak to the team. It’s definitely gutting but I got one point at least and we’ll work hard. At least we both got points for the team.
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“I don’t particularly feel like we have made improvements. All I know is that I couldn’t keep up the Haas in the end.
“The power they have, they came slingshotting past me when I overtook Magnussen earlier in the race.
“We have a lot of work to do for sure but I know I have got a great team and we will keep our heads down and try to improve.”
Hamilton, who completed his 180th race for Mercedes – a new record for a driver’s appearance for one team, beating Michael Schumacher’s total at Ferrari, said he was “so happy the weekend is done” and was “looking to getting out” of Saudi Arabia.
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The race had been overshadowed by a missile attack on an oil refinery on Friday and the drivers will now speak to F1 chiefs to express their concerns about returning to the country.
Meanwhile, George Russell, who was fifth, added: “That was the maximum considering I was all by myself pushing as hard as I could.
“The most physical race I have probably experienced in Formula One, which was pretty cool to experience.
“But a victory is not P5. We have work to do but maximised everything. We are making baby steps at the moment and we need to make some bigger leaps.
“I’m sure we can do that but the timeline I don’t know.” More

GUTTED Lewis Hamilton fears he cannot even keep up with F1 minnows Haas after his title hopes were dealt another blow.The seven-time world champion finished so far behind the leaders in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix he did not know he had scored one point for finishing tenth.

Lewis Hamilton finished down in 10th as Mercedes had another poor weekendCredit: EPA
Max Verstappen pipped Charles Leclerc for the win — with Hamilton moaning that he could not keep up Kevin Magnussen in a Haas — whose team finished bottom of last season’s constructors championship.
Hamilton, 37, said: “Right now, we’re not fighting for the top step. We’re so far off the guys up ahead. We’ve got a lot of work to do.
“I don’t particularly feel like we have made improvements. All I know is that I couldn’t keep up with the Haas in the end.
“The power they have, they came slingshotting past me when I overtook Magnussen earlier in the race.”
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15px;}.css-1qsre5o{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;}.css-16djrfc{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:1;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;padding-top:2px;}.css-1skzs3j{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:1;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;padding-top:2px;}.css-7ysxcx{padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-7ysxcx:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-1x7hydu{font-family:The 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a:not(.nk-card-link){z-index:2;position:relative;}.css-1uyse24{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;border:none;}.css-1uyse24 .nk-headline-kicker{color:rgba(0,114,238,1);}.css-1uyse24:hover:not(:disabled) .nk-headline-kicker{color:rgba(0,86,180,1);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1uyse24:active:not(:disabled) .nk-headline-kicker{color:rgba(0,62,129,1);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1uyse24:visited:not(:disabled) .nk-headline-kicker{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24 .nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(34,37,38,1);}.css-1uyse24:hover:not(:disabled) .nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(0,86,180,1);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1uyse24:active:not(:disabled) .nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(0,62,129,1);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1uyse24:visited:not(:disabled) .nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24:before{content:”;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;z-index:1;}.css-xpuujo{border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(149,199,208,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-tqcu81{padding:0;border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(149,199,208,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-124tga5{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-5jzxpx{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-bq4915{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,97,108,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-bq4915:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}PUSHED TO THE MAX .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Verstappen snatches dramatic late win from Leclerc with Hamilton 10th
When asked how far off the pace he felt, Hamilton added: “It feels like a long way away.
“We’re still really down on speed. It’s not just one fix, it’s several things.
“I don’t really know but I’ll have to speak to the team.
“It’s definitely gutting but I got one point at least and we’ll work hard. At least we both got points for the team.”
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Hamilton, who started the race 15th, was issued an apology by his race engineer as he crossed the finish line in Jeddah.
Peter Bonnington said: “OK Lewis, that’s P10. Sorry about that.”
Hamilton replied: “Is there even a point for that position?”
Indeed there is, but only one point and he sits in fifth place in the drivers’ championship – 29 points off the leader Charles Leclerc.
But there was consolation as he snatched another record off Michael Schumacher by completing his 180th race for Mercedes to overtake the German’s 179 for Ferrari.
The race had been overshadowed by a missile attack on an oil refinery on Friday and the drivers will now speak to F1 chiefs to express their concerns about returning to the country.
Max Verstappen (right) beat Charles Leclerc to win the Saudi GPCredit: AP
Meanwhile team-mate George Russell, who was fifth, added: “That was the maximum considering I was all by myself pushing as hard as I could.
“The most physical race I have probably experienced in Formula One, which was pretty cool to experience.
“But a victory is not P5. We have work to do but maximised everything. We are making baby steps at the moment and we need to make some bigger leaps.
“I’m sure we can do that but the timeline I don’t know.” More

MAX VERSTAPPEN traded blows with Charles Leclerc at the front of an epic fight in Saudi Arabia – as Lewis Hamilton was left for dust.While F1’s new golden boys slugged it out in a thrilling final few laps, the seven-time world champion was battling it out with Lance Stroll for 10th place.
Max Verstappen celebrates winning the Saudi Grand PrixCredit: AP
Charles Leclerc battled Verstappen until the final lapCredit: AP
There was a threat from the drivers to boycott this race in the wake of a missile attack just six miles down the road on Friday – and Hamilton must have been left wishing it had been scrapped.
There are some tough times ahead for the Mercedes man, especially after seeing new teammate George Russell finish fifth.
But for the rest of us, we are lapping up this battle between Ferrari and Red Bull at the front.
There was already a thrilling early scrap between the two Alpine drivers which created some nervous moments on the pitwall as Esteban Ocon battled with Fernando Alonso.
.css-16e4f55{margin:16px 0;}.css-1h37p88{background-color:rgba(236,245,247,1);margin:16px 0;}.css-1tapza8{padding:20px 15px;}.css-1bk4jdt{padding:20px 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.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-gmec1d{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;height:auto;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-align-content:center;-ms-flex-line-pack:center;align-content:center;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:flex-start;justify-content:flex-start;margin-left:calc(-20px/2);margin-right:calc(-20px/2);}.css-fh9577{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-left:calc(20px/2);margin-right:calc(20px/2);}.css-65fvqt{max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-h98a3b{box-sizing:border-box;overflow:hidden;background-color:rgba(236,245,247,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;position:relative;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-bk55po{box-sizing:border-box;display:block;position:relative;margin-bottom:0;}.css-1shocxe{box-sizing:border-box;}.css-1a2irou{box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;}.css-1a2irou 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.nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24:before{content:”;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;z-index:1;}.css-xpuujo{border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(149,199,208,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-tqcu81{padding:0;border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(149,199,208,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-124tga5{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-5jzxpx{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-bq4915{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,97,108,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-bq4915:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}F1 SAUDI GP .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Verstappen wins thrilling duel with Leclerc as Hamilton down in 10th
They also both ended up in the barriers on lap five as the Frenchman moved twice in the braking zone, almost hitting the Spaniard.
Alonso squeezed past on lap seven, but on the following lap Ocon was back in front as the two pink cars slugged it out.
The inter-team battle formed a cork in the bottle as Valtteri Bottas and Kevin Magnussen entered the fight.
As the midfield squabble for position, Hamilton was quietly slicing his way through the field after his wretched qualifying.
Before this race he was quizzed if he was confident of moving forward, to which he was not particularly confident.
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He should have been. After starting in 15th, by lap 10 he was already up to 12th.
By lap 14, he was into the top 10 before the race was punctured by a safety car.
That man, Nicholas Latifi, who had such a HUGE say in the championship decider in 2021, stuck the wall in his Williams.
The Canadian did the same in the Abu Dhabi GP and resulted in the fiasco that followed thanks to the incorrect decisions from former race director, Michael Masi.
Thankfully, there was no repeat of the mismanagement here, although the timing of Latifi’s crash did change the race leader.
Sergio Perez, who had started on pole and looked comfortable in front, had just stopped for tyres as Latifi’s crash resulted in the safety car being deployed.
When he returned to the race track, he had dropped to fourth place as his rivals all stopped for fresh tyres. It was terrible cruel luck for the Mexican, who had taken his first ever pole the previous day.
Once the green light was given to resume racing, Hamilton powered past Kevin Magnussen into sixth place with the race at the half-way stage.
Max Verstappen celebrating on the podiumCredit: Reuters
Max Verstappen and Oracle Red Bull Racing celebrateCredit: Getty
But any hopes he had of an unlikely podium were dashed altogether amid a mad few moments.
First, Daniel Ricciardo conked out in his McLaren as he complained about a loss of power.
Then Alfa’s Valtteri Bottas crawled into the pits and retired from the race.
And finally, the one that sparked the end of Hamilton’s brave fight for a solid haul of points as Alonso brought his car to a halt at the end of the pitlane having failed to crawl the whole way back.
Hamilton could see the danger and radioed his team saying “cars slowing down”.
However, the order to pit came too late as he passed the entry before the pit lane was closed to recover Alonso’s car.
When Hamilton was eventually allowed to make his mandatory pitstop, he was down in 12th place.
And while the seven time world champion was dumped into the field with Aston Martin and Haas and Alfa Romeo, the battle in front ignited.
Lewis Hamilton finished only in tenthCredit: Getty
Nicholas Latifi of Canada and Williams runs across the track after crashingCredit: Getty
It was a repeat of the excitement we saw in this season’s opening race in Bahrain as Verstappen and Leclerc traded positions at the front.
First Verstappen took the lead on lap 43 before Leclerc snatched back P1 a few corners later.
There was a repeat on the following lap as they both exchanged positions. It was fair, respectful and had everyone on their seats.
As both battled for the win, there was still more drama. After a week involving a missile attack down the road and a driver rebellion, why would there not be?
This time, it was those meddling stewards, who decided to investigate the final two laps of the race when there were waved double-yellow flags when Alex Albon hit the wall.
As they deliberated their verdict into the night, Verstappen was left reflecting on his first win of the year.
He said: “It was really tough. It was a good race. We were battling hard at the front and I started to play the long game.
“They are quick in the corners and we are quick on straights but I felt we had a little more pace.
Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc embraceCredit: Reuters
Second-placed Charles Leclerc of Monaco and Ferrari celebrates on the podiumCredit: Getty
“I just tried to get by. It wasn’t easy playing smart tricks in the last corner but eventually got ahead. After that he was constantly in the DRS. We are happy we can kickstart the season.
“It seems like once you get quite close because with the cars even when you got half a second you can get quite a good exit. It makes it a lot more tricky and harder to plan your pass.”
Leclerc, who won in Bahrain and set the fastest lap to earn a bonus point, added: “Oh my god, I really enjoyed this race.
“It’s hard racing but fair. Every race should be like this. Of course I am disappointed not to get the win.
“We were quite quick in the corners but slow on the straight because we got more downforce.
“It was extremely difficult for me to cover Max in the straights but he did a great job and deserved to win the race.
“The respect has always been there especially when you finish a race like this.
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“Honestly we are on a street track and have been pushing like I rarely have before to the absolute limit and we take risks at the end.
“So of course there is respect but I am a little bit disappointed.”
Max Verstappen celebrates his winCredit: Reuters
Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc racing offCredit: Getty More