This year’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix again provides a competition to be discussed. In addition to the action on the track, the race also yields some interesting statistics. GPFans takes you through some amazing facts.

In this new era of Formula 1, there is a fierce battle in the first two Grands Prix and not just to win. The whole terrain has been able to feel how the new cars promote racing. Now that the team is packing up again and focusing on Australia, we bring you to the facts after the spectacle in Jeddah.

Perez takes pole

However, the race was not in Sergio Pérez’s favour. The safety car’s unfavorable situation took its lead in the race. However, the two-time race winner can look back on a fine weekend. The 32-year-old Pérez is actually the first Mexican to score a pole position during a Formula 1 weekend.

This makes Mexico the 23rd country to take pole in the sport. For Pérez himself, it is a long road he has to go through. After 215 races he managed to be the fastest on Saturday. With this he holds the record as the racer with the longest waiting time at the pole. The Mexican already has the longest waiting time for a win in 2020, as he needs 190 races to do so.

Verstappen ranks up

World champion Max Verstappen took his 21st win and is now level with Kimi Räikkönen. In the standings with the most race wins, the two men are now in fifteenth position. With the victory in Jeddah, Verstappen has now also won at fifteen different circuits. He is now in ninth place in that standings, along with Räikkönen, but also with former world champion Damon Hill and three-time champion Niki Lauda.

Red Bull Powertrains

Verstappen’s win was also the first for the team’s ‘new’ engine manufacturer: Red Bull Powertrains. Of course the bike is facilitated and made by Honda, but the nameplate is different so we are talking about a new engine manufacturer. Red Bull Powertrains is the 21st engine manufacturer to win Formula 1.

dutch party

The fact that Verstappen posted his first win of the year on 27 March isn’t all that special. But Jos’ father made his debut exactly 28 years ago on the same date. That’s what ‘Jos the Boss’ did for the Benetton team in 1994 during the Brazilian Grand Prix. That gives the win a special edge.

small margin

The exciting battle between Verstappen and Leclerc ended in a finish where Monegask finished just 0.549 seconds behind the Dutchman. While it’s not a photo finish, it’s the second time it’s been so close together. At the 2020 Italian Grand Prix, Pierre Gasly was the first to see the black and white checkered flag, with Carlos Sainz behind him in just 0.415 seconds.

Leclerc and Sainz both finished on the podium in Jeddah. With this, both ensure Ferrari is still at the top of the standings after two races. The double podium results in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were the first consecutive top three results for the Scuderia since Kimi Räikkönen and Sebastian Vettel achieved the feat in Austria and Great Britain in 2018.

England surpasses milestone

With George Russell, Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton all finishing on points, England have crossed the 10,000 point mark in Formula 1. The counter stands at 10,001.78 points with Germany in second place with 7,897.50 points.

Haas taking points again

Kevin Magnussen’s ninth finish in Saudi Arabia means Haas have scored points in two consecutive races for the first time since Spain and Monaco in 2019. The team hung behind the pitch in 2021, but came out well this season.

Hamilton broke the record

Seven-times champion Hamilton begins his 180th race for Mercedes in Jeddah. In doing so, he has surpassed the total number of races Michael Schumacher has driven for Ferrari. The Englishman also had another fact hanging from his pants. It is the first time since the 2012 Korean Grand Prix Hamilton has finished tenth.