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Formula 1
Saudi Arabian GP
F1 Saudi Arabian GP Live Commentary and Updates - Race
Minute-by-minute updates for the 2024 Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Round two of the 2024 F1 season is here, with Max Verstappen starting from pole position for Red Bull.
But off the track it appears all-out war is unfolding at the world champions, as Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko stated he could be suspended after the race, which led to Verstappen indicating his position at the team might not be certain if Marko departs.
On the track, Oliver Bearman is set to make his F1 race debut as he steps in for Carlos Sainz at Ferrari, with the Spaniard sidelined by appendicitis. The British 18-year-old starts from 11th on the grid.
The Saudi Arabian GP starts at 5pm GMT.
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With 15 laps to go the Mercedes mechanics get up and stretch their legs but Hamilton doesn't pit just yet. Will he (and Norris) try to hang it out and switch to the softs?
After a few laps of calm, Piastri pounces against Hamilton at Turn 1. But no, he locks up under braking and goes into the runoff, so has to give fifth place back to the Mercedes driver.
Easy. Hulkenberg returns to the track in P11, with Zhou ahead still to stop. Magnussen built the margin and a two-second cushion for his team-mate.
Pit stop
Hulkenberg pits from P10. Has Magnussen done enough for his team-mate?
Albon was as late as you like on the brakes into Turn 1 on lap 34, quite literally diving inside Tsunoda and catching the RB driver napping. It may only be for P14, but that's a firm contender for move of the day.
Verstappen is human! He's had a lap time deleted for exceeding track limits at Turn 23. Another handful or three of those and his lead might come under threat. But we're clutching at straws.
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McLaren asks Norris if they can go for Plan A but the major factor is if he can feels he overtake the drivers who will pass him when he is in the pits. He says, "yes but we need to pit as soon as possible".
Magnussen is coasting through the first sector, holding his competitors back by two seconds in the first sector alone. Incredible team play.
"Absolutely brilliant Kev, keep at it," says Haas. The aim for Magnussen is to hold this pack back to allow team-mate Hulkenberg to achieve a free pitstop. The margin he has currently built is 17s.
Leclerc will know about Perez's 5s penalty but he simply doesn't have the pace to take advantage of it so far. The gap between the pair is 9.3s.
Tsunoda finally breaches Magnussen's defence into Turn 1, but Magnussen again leaves the track to retain the position. In a double-blow to Tsunoda, Ocon has now passed him.
At the end of this race Piastri is going to be able to draw the rear end of the Mercedes from memory. On to lap 29 and still no way through.
Stopwatch
At the front Verstappen is still popping in fastest laps when he pleases, the latest a 1m32.561s, as he lead grows to 7.1s over Perez.
Looking again at Bearman, he isn't making any kind of impact on Russell's six-second advantage, although he has pulled a gap of the same number over Hulkenberg.
On lap 27 at Turn 1 with DRS, Leclerc gets by Norris. The McLaren driver won't be too disheartened knowing he is really racing those directly behind him now.
It's all happening in Turn 1, as Magnussen marginally holds off Tsunoda as Ocon finds his way past Albon. The Haas driver is a cork in the bottle, holding up the lower order.
McLaren asks Norris to extend his stint on these tyres while he can hold station in third place just in front of Leclerc.
"We see Hamilton moving under braking, that was almost an accident, we are reporting it," Piastri is told by his McLaren team. Not sure I totally agree with that, but it is up to race control and the stewards to decide.
On lap 24 Hamilton once again fends off the McLaren into Turn 1 to keep hold of fifth place. Despite Hamilton's concerns in the high speed, his Mercedes has enough grunt to keep the McLaren at bay even with the advantage of DRS.
Hamilton places his Mercedes perfectly into Turn 1 to defend from Piastri again. Further ahead Norris is keeping clear of Leclerc in third but he still needs to pit in this race.
Penalty
More bad news for Haas, as Magnussen is hit with another 10-second penalty for leaving the track to gain an advantage. In an off-screen move, he overtook Tsunoda off by leaving the track.
His personal penalty haul for today is up to 20 seconds before half distance.
His personal penalty haul for today is up to 20 seconds before half distance.
Verstappen is marching clear at the front, putting another three-tenths into his lead on Perez who still has his five-second penalty to serve. The gap is over six seconds.
Bearman sits patiently behind Hulkenberg into the final corner and uses DRS to breeze past into P9. Next up - five seconds down the road - is Russell.
Piastri has reeled in Hamilton once again in the fight for fifth. He cannot get close enough at Turn 1 but it looks to be just a matter of time again.
Ollie Bearman is now all over the back of Hulkenberg for P9, looking to move further up the points order on his F1 debut.
Stopwatch
Perez with DRS darts by Norris to make it a Red Bull 1-2 once again. Verstappen's lead is already 5.3s, as the Dutch driver sets a new fastest lap of 1m33.059s.
At the start of lap 17, Piastri tries to do a Leclerc around the outside of Hamilton at Turn 1 but gets shown the edge of the track so has to take to the runoff.
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"They are killing us in the high speed," Hamilton says on team radio. "Copy Lewis, GPS agrees," is the reply. GPS never lies.
Penalty
A 10-second penalty has been handed to Magnussen for causing a collision with Albon.
Verstappen has cleared off at the front again. His lead is up to 3s over Norris on lap 16.
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"Any chance of Plan B? They're in another league."
Alonso wants more from Aston Martin. He's currently in P7.
Alonso wants more from Aston Martin. He's currently in P7.
Penalty
Perez has been given a five-second penalty for an unsafe release in that near-miss with Alonso in the pits.
Leclerc uses DRS to go around the outside of Hamilton at Turn 1 and gains fourth position coming out of Turn 2.
And into the points goes Bearman, passing Zhou, who is yet to stop, into Turn one.
Norris has been investigated for his possible jump start and cleared so won't face a penalty. On we go.
The incident between Albon and Magnussen is now under investigation.
All those who pitted for hard tyres are now lighting up the timing screen, while those who stayed out are fading again. Leclerc is hunting Hamilton for fourth.
Albon is lighting up the radio about an incident with Magnussen on the restart, with the Haas driving having looked to ease him into the wall.
Magnussen is now reporting floor damage, possibly as a result of the contact.
Magnussen is now reporting floor damage, possibly as a result of the contact.
On lap 13 into Turn 1 Verstappen passes Norris with DRS to retake the lead, and further back Hamilton loses third place to Perez.
Verstappen has clawed back into the DRS range of Norris on lap 12... here comes trouble.
By: Autosport Staff
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