Pérez takes a Red Bull double, Alonso loses his podium on the green carpet… before getting it back!

Sergio Pérez (Red Bull) only shook for a few laps in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia). Author of pole position, the Mexican was overtaken when the lights went out by theAston Martin de Fernando Alonso with whom he shared the first row.

Very quickly, however, it appeared that the double Spanish world champion (2005-06) was going to receive a 5-second penalty because he was poorly positioned on the starting grid (as Esteban Ocon in Bahrain 15 days earlier). Pérez did not even need this sanction to recover his property as soon as the DRS was activated.

Only 15th on the grid after experiencing a broken driveshaft in Q2, his teammate Max Verstappen took a cautious start before beginning a serene ascent.

The reigning double world champion also benefited from the favorable timing of a Safety Car sent to the track after the premature retirement of Lance stroll, author of a big start to the race at Aston Martin.

4th when hostilities resumed, Verstappen quickly erased the Mercedes of George Russell and Alonso's Aston to move up to 2nd place. Pérez then had a lead of 5 seconds. He will manage it until the end, his teammate reporting a few alerts with his mount.

By signing the best lap in the race at the very end of the GP, Verstappen nevertheless offers himself a bonus point which allows him to retain control of the Drivers' championship after two rounds, just ahead of Pérez.

Behind the untouchable Red Bull duo, Alonso has a second podium in a row after that of Bahrain at the start of the season. This is his 2th in the premier category. The Iberian is ahead of Russell's Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton, which ensure an honorable harvest for the German manufacturer despite the lack of competitiveness of the W14.

The two follow Ferrari, Carlos Sainz before Charles Leclerc. Starting 12th due to a grid penalty, the Monegasque made a good comeback before being trapped by the timing of the Safety Car. He slipped behind his Spanish teammate, discreet this weekend.

Alpine places his two A523s in the Top 10, Esteban Ocon ahead of his new teammate Pierre Gasly. Kevin Magnussen snatches the last point in play to Haas at the end of a nice fight with theAlpha Tauri de Yuki tsunoda.

Apart from the points, disappointment for Oscar piastri, who started 9th but had to make a premature pit stop after contact in the peloton at the start. The Australian finished 15th, two places ahead of his teammate Lando Norris, who started 19th after a mistake in qualifying. The start of the season is definitely very complicated for McLaren.

Next meeting F1 in two weeks with the Australian Grand Prix (March 30 – April 2).

UPDATE: Fernando Alonso lost his 100th career podium on the green carpet after having received a second penalty after the race.

Update 2: Fernando Alonso finally recovered his podium after the cancellation of his 2nd penalty by the stewards.