Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull), a three-time world champion, won the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, the second race of the Formula One World Championship, held on Saturday at the Jeddah street circuit. Spanish driver Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) did not participate due to appendicitis surgery on Friday.

Verstappen, 26, strengthened his lead with his second victory in the first two races of the year - his 56th in Formula 1, marking his 100th podium. His teammate, Mexican Sergio Pérez, completed Red Bull's second 'one-two' of the season; in a race where Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), who set the fastest lap, finished third.

Spanish double world champion Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), enjoying a resurgence at 42, completed another sensational race and finished fifth, just behind Australian Oscar Piastri (McLaren).

Englishman George Russell (Mercedes) finished sixth, just ahead of his young compatriot Oliver Bearman, aged 18, who replaced Sainz at Ferrari for this Grand Prix.

Two other English drivers, Lando Norris (McLaren) and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), finished eighth and ninth, respectively.

German Nico Hülkenberg (Haas) also scored points by finishing tenth on the fastest street circuit in the World Championship.

The next race, the Australian Grand Prix, will take place in two weekends at the semi-urban Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne.