Highlights of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

In just three years of existence, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix has already been the scene of battles on the track and drama off it.

The history of the Jeddah street circuit is marked as much by dramatic events off the track as by the race itself. The inaugural Grand Prix in 2021 set the tone with an explosive duel between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, two rivals who pushed each other to the limits of the rules and, at times, to the limits of safety. The controversy didn't end there: an incident that led to a red flag forced the stewards to reshuffle the starting grid in a manner that many described as arbitrary, propelling Esteban Ocon to pole position. However, the Frenchman could only manage fourth place, beaten at the finish line by Valtteri Bottas.

A year later, attention shifted from the pit lane to the geopolitical context surrounding the race. An attack on an oil facility near the Jeddah site sent shockwaves through the paddock, making drivers uncomfortable and prompting lengthy deliberations about whether to go ahead with the event. After hours of negotiations, the race went ahead and Sergio Pérez seized the opportunity to claim his first pole position after 215 Grand Prix starts. The 2023 edition added an extra layer of intrigue. A whistleblower later claimed that Fernando Alonso had escaped a penalty that would have prevented him from reaching the podium thanks to the intervention of the FIA president. As the controversy raged, Pérez once again climbed to the top step of the podium, claiming his second victory of the season and his second triumph in Jeddah.