2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

The 2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix (officially the Formula 1 stc Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2022) was the second race of the 2022 FIA Formula One World Championship, held at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on the weekend of March 25-27 2022.
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==Background==
===Opening observations===
Leclerc won the opening race in Bahrain, with Sainz making it a Ferrari 1–2, confirming talks that Ferrari are the favorites to the title as reigning champions Mercedes struggled with porpoising that caused them to lose pace since the Bahrain test. Another point of focus was the reliability issues of RBPT, which had took over as engine supplier and using their technology, and which saw all but one RBPT-powered car (including Verstappen) retire from said issues.
===Inaugural race issues===
Following an eventful race in the previous season, a few drivers called for improving the track's safety, with the circuit undergoing a number of changes in the build-up to the weekend, as well as finishing a number of incomplete infrastructures at the time of the inaugural race weekend. The promoter released information about the minor tweaks to the track to improve driver visibility at Turns 2, 3, 14, and 21 where the barriers will be moved back between 1.5m to 2m (5ft to 6.5ft).
===Pandemic issues continue===
Nico Hülkenberg once again drove for the team, as regular driver Sebastian Vettel had not recovered from COVID-19 which he contracted before the previous week's .
===Entry List===
The full entry list for the is outlined below:
No. 	Driver 	Entrant 	Constructor 	Chassis 	Engine 	Model 	Tyre
1 	Max Verstappen 	Oracle Red Bull Racing 	 	RB18 	 	RBPTH001 1.6L V6t 	
3 	Daniel Ricciardo 	McLaren F1 Team 	 	MCL36 	 	F1 M13 1.6L V6t 	
4 	Lando Norris 	McLaren F1 Team 	 	MCL36 	 	F1 M13 1.6L V6t 	
6 	Nicholas Latifi 	Williams Racing 	 	FW44 	 	F1 M13 1.6L V6t 	
10 	Pierre Gasly 	Scuderia AlphaTauri 	 	AT03 	 	RBPTH001 1.6L V6t 	
11 	Sergio Pérez 	Oracle Red Bull Racing 	 	RB18 	 	RBPTH001 1.6L V6t 	
14 	Fernando Alonso 	BWT Alpine F1 Team 	 	A522 	 	E-Tech RE22 1.6L V6t 	
16 	Charles Leclerc 	Scuderia Ferrari 	 	F1-75 	 	066/7 1.6L V6t 	
18 	Lance Stroll 	Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team 	 	AMR22 	 	F1 M13 1.6L V6t 	
20 	Kevin Magnussen 	Haas F1 Team 	 	VF-22 	 	066/7 1.6L V6t 	
22 	Yuki Tsunoda 	Scuderia AlphaTauri 	 	AT03 	 	RBPTH001 1.6L V6t 	
23 	Alexander Albon 	Williams Racing 	 	FW44 	 	F1 M13 1.6L V6t 	
24 	Guanyu Zhou 	Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN 	 	C42 	 	066/7 1.6L V6t 	
27 	Nico Hülkenberg 	Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team 	 	AMR22 	 	F1 M13 1.6L V6t 	
31 	Esteban Ocon 	BWT Alpine F1 Team 	 	A522 	 	E-Tech RE22 1.6L V6t 	
44 	Lewis Hamilton 	Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team 	 	W13 	 	F1 M13 1.6L V6t 	
47 	Mick Schumacher 	Haas F1 Team 	 	VF-22 	 	066/7 1.6L V6t 	
55 	Carlos Sainz, Jr. 	Scuderia Ferrari 	 	F1-75 	 	066/7 1.6L V6t 	
63 	George Russell 	Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team 	 	W13 	 	F1 M13 1.6L V6t 	
77 	Valtteri Bottas 	Alfa Romeo F1 Team ORLEN 	 	C42 	 	066/7 1.6L V6t 	
Source:%20-%20Entry%20List.pdf - Entry List (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:%20-%20Entry%20List.pdf - Entry List (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:%20-%20Entry%20List.pdf - Entry List (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:%20-%20Entry%20List.pdf - Entry List (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:%20-%20Entry%20List.pdf - Entry List (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:%20-%20Entry%20List.pdf - Entry List (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:%20-%20Entry%20List.pdf - Entry List (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.	Source:%20-%20Entry%20List.pdf - Entry List (PDF). Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile.
==Practice==
An oil refinery not far from the circuit was attacked allegedly by Yemeni Houthi rebels on Friday evening, during the closing minutes of FP1. This led to lengthy emergency discussions about the safety of the event. The start of FP2 was delayed, with discussions continuing on past midnight. It was decided that the weekend would be going on with tightened security. A similar case involving the rebels occurred during the Formula E Diriyah E-Prix in the previous year, wherein a missile interception took place.
===FP1===
Charles Leclerc set the fastest time, followed by Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas.
===FP2===
Charles Leclerc was quickest, followed by Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz.
===FP3===
Charles Leclerc was again the fastest, followed by Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez.
===Practice Results===
The full practice results for the are outlined below:
No. 	Driver 	Team 	FP1 	FP1 	FP2 	FP2 	FP3 	FP3 	 	 	 	 	
No. 	Driver 	Team 	Time 	Pos 	Time 	Pos 	Time 	Pos 	 	 	 	 	
1 	Max Verstappen 	 	1:30.888	2 	1:30.214	2 	1:29.768	2 	 	 	 	 	
3 	Daniel Ricciardo 	 	1:32.506	11 	1:31.527	15 	1:31.186	16 	 	 	 	 	
4 	Lando Norris 	 	1:32.594	13 	1:30.735	7 	1:31.529	19 	 	 	 	 	
6 	Nicholas Latifi 	 	1:33.529	18 	1:31.814	18 	1:31.992	20 	 	 	 	 	
10 	Pierre Gasly 	 	1:31.317	5 	1:30.963	12 	1:30.148	7 	 	 	 	 	
11 	Sergio Pérez 	 	1:31.563	7 	1:30.360	4 	1:29.833	3 	 	 	 	 	
14 	Fernando Alonso 	 	1:32.381	10 	1:30.944	11 	1:30.296	9 	 	 	 	 	
16 	Charles Leclerc 	 	1:30.772	1 	1:30.074	1 	1:29.735	1 	 	 	 	 	
18 	Lance Stroll 	 	1:32.582	12 	1:31.372	14 	1:31.067	15 	 	 	 	 	
20 	Kevin Magnussen 	 	No Time 	20 	1:32.344	20 	1:30.262	8 	 	 	 	 	
22 	Yuki Tsunoda 	 	1:31.505	6 	1:30.886	10 	1:30.415	10 	 	 	 	 	
23 	Alexander Albon 	 	1:33.087	17 	1:31.866	19 	1:31.374	17 	 	 	 	 	
24 	Guanyu Zhou 	 	1:32.608	14 	1:31.615	17 	1:31.374	13 	 	 	 	 	
27 	Nico Hülkenberg 	 	1:33.034	16 	1:31.615	16 	1:31.424	18 	 	 	 	 	
31 	Esteban Ocon 	 	1:32.026	8 	1:30.760	8 	1:31.424	6 	 	 	 	 	
44 	Lewis Hamilton 	 	1:32.364	9 	1:30.513	5 	1:30.707	11 	 	 	 	 	
47 	Mick Schumacher 	 	1:34.429	19 	1:31.169	13 	1:30.707	12 	 	 	 	 	
55 	Carlos Sainz, Jr.	 	1:31.139	4 	1:30.320	3 	1:30.009	4 	 	 	 	 	
63 	George Russell 	 	1:32.839	15 	1:30.664	6 	1:30.983	14 	 	 	 	 	
77 	Valtteri Bottas 	 	1:31.084	3 	1:30.832	9 	1:30.030	5 	 	 	 	 	
Source:	Source: 	Source:	Source: 	Source:	Source: 	Source:	Source: 	Source:	Source:	Source:	Source:	Source:	Source:
==Qualifying==
===Q1===
There was a red flag early in the session involving Latifi where he lost control and slid out at Turn 11 and rested at Turn 13. At the end of the session, Hamilton had a shock exit out in Q1 down in P16. Tsunoda did not set a time due to a cooling system issue (unrelated to fuel system issues of the last GP), but will need a rules exception from race control if he will compete in the race on Sunday since he did not satisfy the 107% rule. Hamilton and Tsunoda thus joined Albon, Hulkenberg and Latifi out of Q1, the seven-time champion out in Q1 for the first time since the 2017 Brazilian Grand Prix.
===Q2===
Highlight of Q2 was Mick Schumacher's massive accident which caused a red flag interrupting the session which lasted over 30 minutes. He was seen conscious and taken to the medical center for further evaluation. Ricciardo was handed a three-place grid penalty by the stewards for impeding Ocon on his flying lap.
Out of the session were Norris, Ricciardo, Zhou, Schumacher and Stroll. Haas later announced that Schumacher would not be starting the race as a precaution.
===Q3===
The Ferraris looked set to achieve a front row lockout with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, Jr. in P1 and P2, respectively. It would have been Ferrari's first 1-2 grid start since the 2019 Mexican Grand Prix. However, at the last minute, Sergio Pérez came up with a crushing denial for the team when Pérez set a time only 0.025 seconds faster than Leclerc, taking his maiden career pole, while his team-mate Verstappen settled in 4th after struggling. Hamilton's team-mate Russell made it P6 for the highest-starting Mercedes-engined car for the race.
===Qualifying Results===
The full qualifying results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Team 	 	Q1 	Q1 	 	Q2 	Q2 	 	Q3 	Q3 	Grid
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Team 	 	Pos. 	Time 	 	Pos. 	Time 	 	Pos. 	Time 	Grid
1 	11 	Sergio Pérez 	 	 	6 	1:29.705 	 	2 	1:28.924 	 	1 	1:28.200 	1
2 	16 	Charles Leclerc 	 	 	3 	1:29.039 	 	1 	1:28.780 	 	2 	1:28.225 	2
3 	55 	Carlos Sainz, Jr. 	 	 	1 	1:28.855 	 	4 	1:28.686 	 	3 	1:28.402 	3
4 	1 	Max Verstappen 	 	 	2 	1:28.928 	 	3 	1:28.945 	 	4 	1:28.461 	4
5 	31 	Esteban Ocon 	 	 	13 	1:30.093 	 	15 	1:29.584 	 	5 	1:29.068 	5
6 	63 	George Russell 	 	 	4 	1:29.680 	 	7 	1:29.618 	 	6 	1:29.104 	6
7 	14 	Fernando Alonso 	 	 	11 	1:29.978 	 	5 	1:29.295 	 	7 	1:29.147 	7
8 	77 	Valtteri Bottas 	 	 	5 	1:29.295 	 	6 	1:29.404 	 	8 	1:29.183 	8
9 	10 	Pierre Gasly 	 	 	8 	1:29.891 	 	10 	1:29.418 	 	9 	1:29.254 	9
10 	20 	Kevin Magnussen 	 	 	7 	1:29.831 	 	13 	1:29.546 	 	10 	1:29.588 	10
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
11 	4 	Lando Norris 	 	 	9 	1:29.957 	 	11 	1:29.651 	 	 	 	11
12 	3 	Daniel Ricciardo 	 	 	12 	1:30.009 	 	12 	1:29.773 	 	 	 	14*
13 	24 	Guanyu Zhou 	 	 	10 	1:29.978 	 	13 	1:29.819 	 	 	 	12
14 	47 	Mick Schumacher 	 	 	14 	1:30.167 	 	14 	1:29.920 	 	 	 	†
15 	18 	Lance Stroll 	 	 	15 	1:30.256 	 	15 	1:31.009 	 	 	 	13
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
16 	44 	Lewis Hamilton 	 	 	16 	1:30.343 	 	 	 	 	 	 	15
17 	23 	Alexander Albon 	 	 	17 	1:30.492 	 	 	 	 	 	 	16
18 	27 	Nico Hülkenberg 	 	 	18 	1:30.543 	 	 	 	 	 	 	17
19 	6 	Nicholas Latifi 	 	 	19 	1:31.817 	 	 	 	 	 	 	18
20 	22 	Yuki Tsunoda 	 	 	20 	No Time 	 	 	 	 	 	 	‡
107% Time: 1:35.074 	107% Time: 1:35.074 	107% Time: 1:35.074 	107% Time: 1:35.074 	107% Time: 1:35.074 	107% Time: 1:35.074 	107% Time: 1:35.074 	107% Time: 1:35.074 	107% Time: 1:35.074 	107% Time: 1:35.074 	107% Time: 1:35.074 	107% Time: 1:35.074 	107% Time: 1:35.074 	107% Time: 1:35.074
Source:" - Qualifying Result" (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2022), accessed on 26 Mar 2022	Source:" - Qualifying Result" (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2022), accessed on 26 Mar 2022	Source:" - Qualifying Result" (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2022), accessed on 26 Mar 2022	Source:" - Qualifying Result" (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2022), accessed on 26 Mar 2022	Source:" - Qualifying Result" (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2022), accessed on 26 Mar 2022	Source:" - Qualifying Result" (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2022), accessed on 26 Mar 2022	Source:" - Qualifying Result" (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2022), accessed on 26 Mar 2022	Source:" - Qualifying Result" (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2022), accessed on 26 Mar 2022	Source:" - Qualifying Result" (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2022), accessed on 26 Mar 2022	Source:" - Qualifying Result" (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2022), accessed on 26 Mar 2022	Source:" - Qualifying Result" (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2022), accessed on 26 Mar 2022	Source:" - Qualifying Result" (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2022), accessed on 26 Mar 2022	Source:" - Qualifying Result" (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2022), accessed on 26 Mar 2022	Source:" - Qualifying Result" (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2022), accessed on 26 Mar 2022
*Bold indicates the fastest driver's time in each session.
* * Ricciardo received a three-place grid penalty for impeding Ocon at Turn 9 during Q2. 
* † Schumacher withdrew following his accident during Q2.FIA Decision: 
* ‡ Tsunoda was permitted to start but had an engine failure during a reconnaissance lap.FIA Decision: 
===Grid===
Show Grid
==Race==
===Report===
The race was started at 20:00 local time on 27 March and lasted for 50 laps. Yuki Tsunoda's car suffered a power unit issue on the way to the grid, preventing him from starting the race. Pérez initially led from pole position ahead of Leclerc, Verstappen, and Sainz for 14 laps. On lap 15, Nicholas Latifi retired after hitting the wall, which brought out the safety car and occurred just after Pérez made a pitstop; Leclerc and Verstappen were able to make their pit stops under safety car conditions, allowing them to rejoin in front of Pérez, who illegally passed Sainz, who had also pitted and came out ahead of him, and had to give back position when race resumed.
During much of the race, the midfield was close; there was a hard-fought battle between Alpine's Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon, which ended after Ocon was given orders to hold position. On laps 35 and 36, Alonso, Daniel Ricciardo, and Valtteri Bottas all retired within moments of each other due to unrelated mechanical issues. Alexander Albon also failed to finish following a collision with Lance Stroll on lap 47, but Albon was classified as he had completed over 90% of the total race distance. On laps 42–43, Leclerc and Verstappen started a DRS battle, which was won by Verstappen to take the lead by lap 46, as Leclerc could not keep him out of DRS after his tyres cooled down when a virtual safety car was called out on lap 37; as race direction declared the pit lane closed until race resumed, Lewis Hamilton was precluded from a time-advantage pit, dropping him from 6th to 12th. Yellow flags on turn 1 after Albon and Stroll's incident precluded Leclerc for a DRS offensive and Verstappen won the race, with Sainz completing the podium.
After the race, Kevin Magnussen, Sainz, and Pérez were investigated for failure to slow down after yellow flags; however, no penalties were handed out. It was Verstappen's first win of the season and 21st overall. It was also Hamilton's 180th race start with Mercedes, surpassing Michael Schumacher for most started races with a single team.
===Results===
The full results for the are outlined below:
Pos. 	No. 	Driver 	Constructor 	Laps 	Time/Retired 	Grid 	Points
1 	1 	Max Verstappen 	 	50 	1:24:19.293 	4 	25
2 	16 	Charles Leclerc 	 	50 	+0.549 	2 	19
3 	55 	Carlos Sainz 	 	50 	+8.097 	3 	15
4 	11 	Sergio Pérez 	 	50 	+10.800 	1 	12
5 	63 	George Russell 	 	50 	+32.732 	6 	10
6 	31 	Esteban Ocon 	 	50 	+56.017 	5 	8
7 	4 	Lando Norris 	 	50 	+56.124 	11 	6
8 	10 	Pierre Gasly 	 	50 	+1:02.946 	9 	4
9 	20 	Kevin Magnussen 	 	50 	+1:04.308 	10 	2
10 	44 	Lewis Hamilton 	 	50 	+1:13.948 	15 	1
11 	24 	Guanyu Zhou 	 	50 	+1:22.215 	12 	
12 	27 	Nico Hülkenberg 	 	50 	+1:31.742 	17 	
13 	18 	Lance Stroll 	 	49 	+1 Lap 	13 	
14† 	23 	Alexander Albon 	 	47 	Accident 	16 	
 	77 	Valtteri Bottas 	 	36 	Engine 	8 	
 	14 	Fernando Alonso 	 	35 	Power unit 	7 	
 	3 	Daniel Ricciardo 	 	35 	Power unit 	14 	
 	6 	Nicholas Latifi 	 	14 	Accident 	18 	
 	22 	Yuki Tsunoda 	 	0 	Power unit 	19 	
 	47 	Mick Schumacher 	 	0 	Accident in Q2 	0 	
Source: - Race Result, https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2022/races/1125/saudi-arabia/race-result.html, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2022), accessed on 20 Mar 2022)	Source: - Race Result, https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2022/races/1125/saudi-arabia/race-result.html, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2022), accessed on 20 Mar 2022)	Source: - Race Result, https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2022/races/1125/saudi-arabia/race-result.html, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2022), accessed on 20 Mar 2022)	Source: - Race Result, https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2022/races/1125/saudi-arabia/race-result.html, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2022), accessed on 20 Mar 2022)	Source: - Race Result, https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2022/races/1125/saudi-arabia/race-result.html, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2022), accessed on 20 Mar 2022)	Source: - Race Result, https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2022/races/1125/saudi-arabia/race-result.html, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2022), accessed on 20 Mar 2022)	Source: - Race Result, https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2022/races/1125/saudi-arabia/race-result.html, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2022), accessed on 20 Mar 2022)	Source: - Race Result, https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2022/races/1125/saudi-arabia/race-result.html, (Formula One World Championship Limited, 2022), accessed on 20 Mar 2022)
* † Albon retired due to damaging his car from colliding with Stroll, but his race was classified since he completed more than 90% race distance.
==Milestones==
* 180th race for Lewis Hamilton in Mercedes, surpassing Michael Schumacher's record for the most races started in a single constructor.
* Maiden pole position for Sergio Pérez.
** Perez becomes the first Mexican driver to start from pole position. He also broke Mark Webber's record for securing his first pole position after the most race starts at 215 races.
* 7th consecutive year with at least one win for 
** 76th win for Red Bull
* Maiden pole and race win for Red Bull Powertrains Limited.
==Standings==
While both Leclerc, Sainz and the Scuderia maintained their top positions on the leaderboard, Verstappen's win helped him leap to third in the drivers' standings and brought Red Bull to third in the constructors' standings one point behind Mercedes.
Drivers' World Championship	Drivers' World Championship	Drivers' World Championship	Drivers' World Championship
Pos. 	Driver 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	Charles Leclerc 	45 	
2 	Carlos Sainz 	33 	
3 	Max Verstappen 	25 	16
4 	George Russell 	22 	
5 	Lewis Hamilton 	16 	2
6 	Esteban Ocon 	14 	1
7 	Sergio Pérez 	12 	11
8 	Kevin Magnussen 	12 	3
9 	Valtteri Bottas 	8 	3
10 	Lando Norris 	6 	5
11 	Yuki Tsunoda 	4 	3
12 	Pierre Gasly 	4 	8
13 	Fernando Alonso 	2 	4
14 	Guanyu Zhou 	1 	4
Constructors' World Championship	Constructors' World Championship	Constructors' World Championship	Constructors' World Championship
Pos. 	Team 	Pts. 	+/-
1 	 	78 	
2 	 	38 	
3 	 	37 	7
4 	 	16 	1
5 	 	12 	2
6 	 	9 	2
7 	 	8 	1
8 	 	6 	1
Only point-scoring drivers and constructors are shown.
==See Also==
==References==
Images and Videos:
*
References:
Category:Grand Prix articles
Category:2022 Grands Prix
Category:Saudi Arabian Grand Prix