The Dutchman won nine races in as many races before clinching victory at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen won the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix from pole position, Red Bull scoring their second one-two in as many races and continuing their dominant start to the F1 season.
Mexico's Sergio Perez took second place under the floodlights on the Jeddah Corniche on Saturday, with last year's winner taking the checkered flag 13.643 seconds behind his three-time world champion teammate.
It was the first time Verstappen won the first two races of the season after winning a record 19 of 22 races last year.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc finished third, earning bonus points for his fastest lap and taking his first podium of the season.
The victory was Verstappen's ninth in a row since last September in Japan, and the 56th of the 26-year-old Dutch driver's career.
It was also his 100th career podium and his 115th win for Red Bull, moving him past Williams into fourth place on the all-time list.
“Overall, it was a great weekend for the whole team and for myself. The car felt really good and it was the same in the race,” Verstappen said.
Britain's Oliver Bearman, Ferrari's youngest ever rookie to make his F1 race debut at the age of 18 years and 305 days, finished seventh and was named Driver of the Day after Spaniard Carlos Sainz was sidelined with appendicitis. Was chosen.
“He was unbelievable today,” Leclerc said of his temporary teammate. “It's very impressive and I think he's very proud. We all realize how talented he is and it's only a matter of time before he gets into F1. Sure”
McLaren's Oscar Piastri finished fourth, ahead of Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso, Mercedes' George Russell and Bearman, and two British drivers, Lando Norris and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton. McLaren and Mercedes then finished 8th and 9th, with Nico Hulkenberg taking the win. Haas's winning goal.
“One of the most physical races”
“It was one of the more physical races, it was a tough race,” Verstappen said after his ninth straight win.
The safety car was brought out on lap seven after Aston Martin's Lance Stroll contacted the wall and crashed into the barrier at Turn 22.
The Canadian walked away unscathed as all but four drivers, including Norris and Hamilton, jumped into the pits.
Norris was later cleared of an off-the-grid jump start, but was in the lead when the new Aston Martin Vantage's safety car brought him back to the pits on lap nine, but Verstappen was in front by lap 13. I went back and pulled away.
Perez was given a five-second penalty for an unsafe release during his first pit stop, while Haas' Kevin Magnussen was given a 10-second penalty for causing contact with Williams' Alex Albon.
The Dane was then given a further 10-second penalty for going off track and gaining an advantage, but his main role was to create a big enough gap behind Hulkenberg that the German could pit and take the precious lead. The goal was to earn points and be able to finish.
Alpine's Pierre Gasly was ordered to pit and park on the opening lap due to a suspected gearbox problem, marking his first retirement of the season after all 20 cars finished the season opener in Bahrain a week ago. became.
