Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2023 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Sergio Perez claimed a brilliant victory at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, beating teammate Max Verstappen to secure his first win of the season around the high-speed Jeddah street circuit. The Mexican driver converted pole position into victory, controlling the race from the front to deliver Red Bull's second consecutive one-two finish.

Starting from his first pole position since 2022, Perez executed a flawless performance around the demanding 6.174km circuit, navigating the blind corners and treacherous walls with precision. Verstappen finished second despite setting the fastest lap, unable to find a way past his teammate on the challenging street layout where overtaking opportunities were limited. Fernando Alonso secured his second consecutive podium for Aston Martin in third place, continuing his remarkable start to the season at age 41.

The race was relatively incident-free compared to previous editions of the Saudi Arabian GP, with no Safety Car interventions disrupting the running order. Verstappen's bonus point for fastest lap meant he left Jeddah with a slender championship lead, but Perez's victory demonstrated he would be a genuine contender in the early season. The result showcased Red Bull's overwhelming superiority, with the RB19 proving dominant on vastly different circuit characteristics from Bahrain.