Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: Verstappen wins as 18-year-old Bearman finishes seventh

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took a comfortable victory in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, as Briton Oliver Bearman scored points on his debut in seventh for Ferrari.

Verstappen’s win was his second in two races in 2024 and his ninth consecutive victory dating back to September.

Leading team-mate Sergio Perez to a Red Bull one-two, it continued the crushing superiority Verstappen has had over the Formula 1 field for nearly two years.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc came third.

Bearman, standing in for Carlos Sainz after the Spaniard underwent an appendectomy, became at 18 years old the youngest British driver in F1 history, and the third youngest ever.

He drove with maturity to fend off a potential challenge from McLaren’s Lando Norris and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton as they fought back after late pit stops for fresh tyres on inverted strategies. (BBC)