2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

Championship standings

Verstappen leads the Drivers’ Championship with 25 points after the opening round, 7 ahead of Pérez in second and 10 ahead of Alonso in third. Red Bull lead the Constructors’ Championship from Aston Martin by 20 points and from Mercedes by 27 points.

Previous race

At Bahrain, Verstappen led from pole to flag by nearly 12 seconds over Pérez, with Alonso completing the podium in only his second race start for Aston Martin. Leclerc retired from third with a mechanical failure. Lance Stroll finished sixth despite racing with two broken wrists and a broken toe.

Tyre choices

Pirelli brings the C2, C3, and C4 compounds — designated hard, medium, and soft.

Track changes

Turns 22 and 23 are tightened and walls moved back at several corners following safety concerns over fast, blind sections. Kerbing is also revised. The third DRS detection and activation points are moved farther ahead — now positioned on the exit of turn 27 and 170 metres after turn 27 respectively — in response to dangerous braking tactics employed at previous editions, where drivers braked erratically into turn 27 to draw DRS from the car behind.

Practice

In the first free practice session, Verstappen goes fastest ahead of Pérez and Alonso, with Stroll and Russell completing the top five. The second session sees Alonso split the Red Bull pair of Verstappen and Pérez, with Ocon and Russell rounding out the top five. Verstappen and Pérez lead the third session once more ahead of the two Aston Martins, with Hamilton fifth.