The second race of the 2023 Formula 1 season kicked off on Sunday in Jeddah for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

   After qualifying rounds on Saturday, Sergio Perez clutched the P1 position, Charles Leclerc with P2 and Fernando Alonso in P3; however, due to Leclerc’s 10-place grid penalty as a result of the replacement of a part for the third time, he started in P12. Max Verstappen, a two-time World Champion, began the race in P15 after a drive shaft failure in qualifying. 

   As the race began Alonso was able to snag the lead position after turn one, but ultimately suffered a five-second penalty due to the incorrect lineup on the grid at the start of the race, which he then had to serve during his pit stop. Ferrari’s Leclerc was able to make up positions and went from P12 to P9 within the first few laps of the race. Eventually, he passed Mercedes Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time World Champion. However, shortly after Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll stopped due to mechanical problems, a safety car was brought out which slowed the pace of the race and positions did not change much after that. 

   Red Bull’s Verstappen was able to go from P15 to P2 and raced the fastest lap of the race which gave him an edge against his teammate Perez, who won the race. Fernando Alonso came in third but was stripped of his title after the FIA gave him a 10-second time penalty that would be added to his end race time due to a mechanic who pushed the jack under Alonso’s car before the time penalty was complete, according to Crash. A couple of hours later the FIA reinstated the third-place win for him after a disagreement in the wording of the rule. This is his 100th podium finish since he started racing Formula 1 in 2001, according to CNN. 

   After the second race in the season, Verstappen is in first place for the championship with 44 points, Perez in second place with 43 points, and Alonso in third with 30.