Max Verstappen took second place on the 2023 Saudi Arabian GP regardless of having began P15 on the grid. The Flying Dutchman stormed by way of the sector in Jeddah, showcasing his championship-winning talents.
Verstappen suffered a driveshaft challenge in Saturday’s qualifying, inflicting him to start out in fifteenth place on Sunday. His teammate Sergio Perez began the race in pole place and went on to win, exhibiting his high quality on road circuits.
The Purple Bull driver was combating the identical driveshaft challenge and was heard complaining to his engineer Gianpiero Lambiase throughout the closing levels of the race.
In the meantime, Fernando Alonso completed the race in P3 however obtained a 10-second penalty post-race. Consequently, George Russell scored his first podium of the season.
Max Verstappen nonetheless holds the lead within the drivers’ standings as he scored an extra level for the quickest lap within the remaining lap of the race.
Chatting with David Coulthard in parc ferme after the race, Verstappen mentioned:
“It wasn’t very simple to get by way of the sector. By way of the primary sector, attempting to observe at first of the race was very troublesome, a variety of sliding round. However as soon as I cleared them one after the other, we obtained into a very good rhythm and, in fact, to be right here on the rostrum.”
Max Verstappen lauded by former Purple Bull driver
![Max Verstappen at the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia [in the car in front]](https://i0.wp.com/staticc.sportskeeda.com/editor/2023/03/2a9d3-16792527002990-1920.jpg?w=900&ssl=1)
![Max Verstappen at the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia [in the car in front]](https://i0.wp.com/staticc.sportskeeda.com/editor/2023/03/2a9d3-16792527002990-1920.jpg?resize=900%2C607&ssl=1)
Former Purple Bull driver David Coulthard has praised Max Verstappen for his distinctive work ethic and fearlessness, which units him aside from different drivers.
Verstappen, a two-time world champion, kicked off the 2023 F1 season with a dominant efficiency. He gained the primary race from the pole place and demonstrated his excellent driving talents.
Following his win in Bahrain, the Dutchman got here second in Jeddah after beginning P15 on the grid as a consequence of a driveshaft challenge.
Whereas Purple Bull has as soon as once more produced the strongest automobile on the grid, Aston Martin is rising as a contender as nicely. Fernando Alonso secured a well-deserved podium end in Bahrain.
Though Alonso’s spectacular efficiency caught many off guard, Verstappen as soon as once more showcased his superiority as a driver within the new season.
Talking on the current Purple Bull Showrun occasion in Mumbai, India, the place Sportskeeda was current, Coulthard gave his two cents on what makes Verstappen stand out.
”Simply because he works so onerous. His mom was a cart racer, his father was a Components One driver. He was not given a path to F1, he needed to slot it out. Again and again, he has proven that he has a preventing spirit, that he’s not frightened by any competitor. His work ethic on the monitor has given him, alongside along with his pure expertise, an edge over his opponents.”
Max Verstappen heads into the third race of the yr because the championship chief – albeit by just one level. It stays to be seen if he’ll rating his third consecutive title.