The Formula 1 in the stranglehold of the world champions: catch-up chaser Max Verstappen and his Red Bull team have already shown their almost brutal superiority in the second race of the season and celebrated a sovereign double success at the Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia. Verstappen had to leave the victory to his teammate Sergio Pérez, but he himself raced almost effortlessly from 15th on the grid to second place.
Man of the day was the Dutchman, who continues to lead the World Championship standings: He also secured the fastest race lap and is now in front with exactly this extra point – at the season opener in Bahrain, the duo had crossed the finish line in reverse order. And as in Bahrain, Fernando Alonso was the best supporting actor, the Spaniard drove in the again fast Aston Martin back in third place.
But what remains of this race is the (early) impression that Red Bull will be unbeatable this year. Already last season, the superior car Verstappen had allowed something similar: At Spa, he started from 14th place and won the race.
Mercedes and Ferrari are not challengers so far, they have enough to do with the new strength of Aston Martin, the former racing team of Sebastian Vettel. Mercedes took fourth and fifth places with George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, followed by Ferrari with Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc. The German Nico Hulkenberg also missed the points in the second race of the season, in the weak Haas he ended up in 12th place.
In qualifying, everything had already expected a sovereign pole position for Verstappen, but then a drive shaft went on strike, "we have never had this damage before," Red Bull said. Two questions arose for the race: Is the impressive pace of the RB19 enough for a victory from 15th on the grid? And does the world champion team have to fear further defects?
In this matter, Red Bull did not want to take any risks, replaced the rear suspension including both drive shafts before the race. And the race to catch up was firmly planned. "We have a top speed advantage and we have Max," said motorsport consultant Helmut Marko at Sky, "the podium should definitely be possible."
The beginning was still a bit difficult, but the more the field pulled apart, the easier Verstappen got past the competitors - after eight of the 50 laps Verstappen was already in the top 10.
Up front, Alonso showed in the first few metres that he has some experience with duels at the front. The Spaniard won the start against Perez and was in the lead for a while, but a little later the damper followed: Alonso had not hit his starting box, clearly too far to the left. The stewards imposed a five-second penalty to be served during the pit stop.
A little later, he had to let Perez go again in the faster Red Bull, but held safely in second place, Russell in the Mercedes fell behind him by one second. Little changed at the front, decisive things happened at the back: Verstappen worked his way through the field, now had less and less trouble - and then also got involuntary help from Aston Martin.
Alonso's teammate Lance Stroll rolled out with a defect, the safety car came onto the track, and the field moved closer together. The drivers got new tyres, and even before the halfway point of the race, Verstappen was not just fourth – he was directly behind the leading trio.
On lap 23 he easily passed Russell, on lap 25 it was Alonso's turn. Now half of the race was left for the stable duel at Red Bull, Verstappen went hunting. Both undercut each other with fastest race laps, but Verstappen came only minimally closer.