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'{{short description|21st round of the 2021 Formula One season}} {{use dmy dates|date=December 2021}} {{use British English|date=December 2021}} {{Infobox Grand Prix race report | Type = F1 | Grand Prix = Saudi Arabian | Date = 5 December | Year = 2021 | Race_No = 21 | Season_No = 22<ref name="Autosport calendar drop to 22">{{cite news|url= https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/formula-1-reveals-updated-2021-calendar-drops-to-22-races/6655341/ |title= Formula 1 reveals updated 2021 calendar, drops to 22 races |last= Smith |first= Luke |work= [[Autosport]] |date= 28 August 2021 |access-date= 6 October 2021 |url-access=limited}}</ref> | Previous_round = 2021 Qatar Grand Prix | Next_round = 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix | image = Jeddah Street Circuit 2021.svg | image_size = | Official name = Formula 1 STC [[Saudi Arabian Grand Prix]] 2021 | Caption = The circuit layout | Location = [[Jeddah Corniche Circuit]], [[Jeddah]], [[Saudi Arabia]] | Weather = Clear | Course = Street Circuit | Course_km = 6.174 | Course_mi = 3.836 | Distance_laps = 50 | Distance_km = 308.450 | Distance_mi = 191.662 | Attendance = | Pole_Driver = [[Lewis Hamilton]] | Pole_Country = GBR | Pole_Team = [[Mercedes-Benz in Formula One|Mercedes]] | Pole_Time = 1:27.511 | fast_driver = [[Lewis Hamilton]] | fast_team = [[Mercedes-Benz in Formula One|Mercedes]] | fast_time = 1:30.734 | fast_lap = 47 {{smaller|(lap record)}} | fast_country = GBR | first_driver = [[Lewis Hamilton]] | first_team = [[Mercedes-Benz in Formula One|Mercedes]] | first_country = GBR | second_driver = [[Max Verstappen]] | second_team = [[Red Bull Racing]]-[[Honda]] | second_country = NED | third_driver = [[Valtteri Bottas]] | third_team = [[Mercedes-Benz in Formula One|Mercedes]] | third_country = FIN | lapchart = {{F1Laps2021|SAU}} }} The '''2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix''' (officially known as the '''Formula 1 STC Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2021''') was a Formula One motor race, held on 5 December 2021 at the [[Jeddah Corniche Circuit]], in [[Saudi Arabia]]. The inaugural [[Saudi Arabian Grand Prix]], it was the 21st round of the [[2021 Formula One World Championship]]. [[Mercedes-Benz in Formula One|Mercedes]] driver [[Lewis Hamilton]] won the race ahead of [[Red Bull Racing|Red Bull]] driver [[Max Verstappen]], while Mercedes' [[Valtteri Bottas]] edged out [[Alpine F1 Team|Alpine]]'s [[Esteban Ocon]] for third by 0.102 seconds. == Background == {{further|2021 Formula One World Championship#Calendar changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic}} The [[Saudi Arabian Grand Prix]] was announced to be on the 2021 Formula One World Championship calendar in November 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.f1-adds-saudi-arabian-grand-prix-night-race-to-2021-calendar.49pVgTPyYV0KBJrOwtqUCN.html|title=F1 adds Saudi Arabian Grand Prix night race to 2021 calendar|website= Formula1|date=5 November 2020|access-date=5 November 2020}}</ref> The race was originally to take place on 28 November, but it was rescheduled due to the postponement of the [[Australian Grand Prix]] owing to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.f1-schedule-2021-bahrain-to-host-season-opener-as-australia-moves-later.4GpFlW2pc8sK9snFaVSHYg.html|title=F1 Schedule 2021 – Bahrain to host season opener as Australia moves later in calendar and Imola returns|website=F1|date=12 January 2021|access-date=12 January 2021|archive-date=12 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112080301/https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.f1-schedule-2021-bahrain-to-host-season-opener-as-australia-moves-later.4GpFlW2pc8sK9snFaVSHYg.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On 28 November, one week before the race, Williams co-founder and former owner Sir [[Frank Williams (Formula One)|Frank Williams]] died at the age of 79.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Legendary F1 team boss Sir Frank Williams dies, aged 79 {{!}} Formula 1®|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.breaking-legendary-f1-team-boss-sir-frank-williams-dies-aged-79.mCPM4nj5n62elIhFoPhtv.html|access-date=4 December 2021|website=www.formula1.com|language=en}}</ref> Teams sported tributes on their cars,<ref>{{Cite web|date=3 December 2021|title=F1 Teams Are Sporting Frank Williams Tributes In Jeddah|url=https://wtf1.com/post/williams-and-alpine-are-sporting-frank-williams-tributes-in-jeddah/|access-date=4 December 2021|website=WTF1|language=en-US}}</ref> and a minute's silence took place approximately one hour before the start of the race.<ref>{{Cite web|title=F1 outlines Williams tribute plans including FW07 lap of honour|url=https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f1-outlines-williams-tribute-plans-including-fw07-lap-of-honour/6846563/|access-date=4 December 2021|website=www.motorsport.com|language=en}}</ref> On Sunday, former Williams driver [[Damon Hill]] did a lap of honour in the [[Williams FW07|FW07]], Williams's first championship winning car.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Damon Hill drives Jeddah Corniche Circuit in 1980 Williams|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/video.damon-hill-drives-jeddah-corniche-circuit-in-1980-williams.1718396371974696322.html|access-date=9 December 2021|website=www.formula1.com|language=en}}</ref> Alpine ran a special livery for the weekend to commemorate their 100th race with one of their sponsors [[Castrol]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Alpine show off new-look livery for Saudi Arabian GP weekend|url=https://racingnews365.com/alpine-show-off-new-look-livery-for-saudi-arabian-gp|access-date=4 December 2021|website=RacingNews365|language=en}}</ref> On the eve of the race weekend, Williams CEO [[Jost Capito]] announced that he was tested COVID-positive, therefore missing the weekend with the team.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Williams CEO and Team Principal Jost Capito tests positive for Covid-19 ahead of Saudi Arabian Grand Prix {{!}} Formula 1®|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.williams-team-principal-jost-capito-tests-positive-for-covid-19-ahead-of.3mXWKnMb7wyX9a7LzjTEKu.html|access-date=4 December 2021|website=www.formula1.com|language=en}}</ref> ===Championship standings before the race=== [[Max Verstappen]] was the Drivers' Championship leader with 8 points separating him and [[Lewis Hamilton]], with 351.5 points and 343.5 points respectively. In the Constructors' Championship, [[Mercedes-Benz in Formula One|Mercedes]] led [[Red Bull Racing]] by 5 points. Behind them, [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] in 3rd place led [[McLaren]] by 39.5 points.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Qatar 2021 – Championship|url=https://www.statsf1.com/en/2021/qatar/championnat.aspx|website=StatsF1.com}}</ref> === Entrants === {{See also|2021 Formula One World Championship#Entries}} The drivers and teams were the same as the season entry list with no additional stand-in drivers for the race or practice.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/decision-document/2021%20Saudi%20Arabian%20Grand%20Prix%20-%20Entry%20List.pdf |title=2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix – Entry List |publisher=[[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile]] |date=2 December 2021 |access-date=2 December 2021 }}</ref> === Tyre choices === Sole tyre supplier Pirelli allocated the [[Formula One tyres|C2, C3, and C4 compounds]] of tyre to be used during this Grand Prix weekend.<ref>{{Cite web|date=20 February 2021|title=Formula 1 2021 Season - Pirelli Unveils Tire Choices For All 23 GPs|url=https://f1lead.com/2021/02/20/formula-1-2021-season-pirelli-unveils-tire-choices-for-all-23-gps/|url-status=live|access-date=12 September 2021|website=F1Lead|language=en}}</ref> == Practice == There were three practice sessions, each scheduled for one hour. The first two practice sessions took place on Friday 3 December at 16:30 and 20:00 local time ([[UTC+03:00]]) and the third practice session took place at 17:00 on 4 December.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Saudi Arabia timetable|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/racing/2021/Saudi_Arabia/Timetable.html|url-status=live|access-date=3 December 2021|website=Formula 1|language=en}}</ref> == Qualifying == Qualifying took place on 4 December at 20:00 local time and lasted for one hour.<ref name=":0"/> Qualifying began with [[Sergio Pérez]] taking top spot of the first segment of qualifying (Q1) with a time of 1.28.021. The second segment (Q2) ended with [[Lewis Hamilton]] taking the top spot with a time of 1.27.712. Hamilton set this time on 8 lap old medium tyres giving him a strong tyre disadvantage for the race (when drivers in the top 10 have to start on the tyre with which they set their fasetest Q2 time) compared to his title rival [[Max Verstappen]] who had 4 lap old medium tyres.<ref name="Bradley 2021">{{cite web|last=Bradley|first=Charles|date=4 December 2021|url=https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f1-grand-prix-qualifying-results-saudi/6850403/|title=F1 Grand Prix qualifying results: Hamilton takes Saudi pole|website=Motorsport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|access-date=16 January 2022}}</ref> All cars who made it through Q2, qualified on the medium tyres apart from [[Lando Norris]] who ran the soft tyres. [[Carlos Sainz Jr.]] struggled with his [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] after spinning at turn 10 and brushing the wall with his rear wing, causing minor damage. On his final run in Q2, he had another loss of control, declaring the car was "undrivable"<ref>{{cite web|last=Narvaez|first=Matthew|date=5 December 2021|url=https://www.whoraced.com/post/jeddah-preview-the-saudi-arabia-gp-causes-most-controversial-title-mistake-at-the-most-key-time|title=Jeddah Preview: The Saudi Arabia GP causes most controversial title mistake at the most key time|website=WhoRaced.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|access-date=16 January 2022}}</ref> and being forced to back out of the attempt.<ref name="Bradley 2021"/> Q3 began with Hamilton having a slide and aborting his opening attempt. Hamilton then set his pole lap of a 1.27.511. [[Max Verstappen]] was on his flying lap at the end of the session, setting the fastest time of the session in the first two sectors, whilst almost clipping the wall at the exit of turn 2. Coming into the final corner, he locked his front left tyre and after going wide and applying the throttle he lost control of the rear and hit the wall causing his suspension to break. This gave Hamilton pole, ahead of [[Valtteri Bottas]] and Verstappen.<ref name="Bradley 2021"/> === Qualifying classification === {| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 85%;" ! rowspan="2" |{{Tooltip|Pos.|Qualifying position}} ! rowspan="2" |{{Tooltip|No.|Car number}} ! rowspan="2" |Driver ! rowspan="2" |Constructor ! colspan="3" style="background:#eaecf0; text-align:center;" |{{nowrap|Qualifying times}} ! rowspan="2" |{{Tooltip|Final<br />grid|Final starting grid position}} |- ! scope="col" |{{Tooltip|Q1|First segment}} ! scope="col" |{{Tooltip|Q2|Second segment}} ! scope="col" |{{Tooltip|Q3|Third segment}} |- ! scope="row" |1 | align="center" |44 | data-sort-value="ver" |{{flagicon|GBR}} [[Lewis Hamilton]] |[[Mercedes-Benz in Formula One|Mercedes]] |1:28.466 |'''1:27.712''' |'''1:27.511''' | align="center" |1 |- ! scope="row" |2 | align="center" |77 | data-sort-value="ham" |{{flagicon|FIN}} [[Valtteri Bottas]] |[[Mercedes-Benz in Formula One|Mercedes]] |1:28.067 |1:28.054 |1:27.622 | align="center" |2 |- ! scope="row" |3 | align="center" |33 | data-sort-value="bot" |{{flagicon|NED}} [[Max Verstappen]] |[[Red Bull Racing]]-[[Honda in Formula One|Honda]] |1:28.285 |1:27.953 |1:27.653 | align="center" |3 |- ! scope="row" |4 | align="center" |16 | data-sort-value="lec" |{{flagicon|MON}} [[Charles Leclerc]] |[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] |1:28.310 |1:28.459 |1:28.054 | align="center" |4 |- ! scope="row" |5 | align="center" |11 | data-sort-value="gas" |{{Flagicon|MEX}} [[Sergio Pérez]] |[[Red Bull Racing]]-[[Honda in Formula One|Honda]] |'''1:28.021''' |1:27.946 |1:28.123 | align="center" |5 |- ! scope="row" |6 | align="center" |10 | data-sort-value="ric" |{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Pierre Gasly]] |[[Scuderia AlphaTauri|AlphaTauri]]-[[Honda in Formula One|Honda]] |1:28.401 |1:28.314 |1:28.125 | align="center" |6 |- ! scope="row" |7 | align="center" |4 | data-sort-value="nor" |{{flagicon|GBR}} [[Lando Norris]] |[[McLaren]]-[[Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains|Mercedes]] |1:28.338 |1:28.344 |1:28.180 | align="center" |7 |- ! scope="row" |8 | align="center" |22 | data-sort-value="sai" |{{Flagicon|JPN}} [[Yuki Tsunoda]] |[[Scuderia AlphaTauri|AlphaTauri]]-[[Honda in Formula One|Honda]] |1:28.503 |1:28.222 |1:28.442 | align="center" |8 |- ! scope="row" |9 | align="center" |31 | data-sort-value="alo" |{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Esteban Ocon]] |[[Alpine F1 Team|Alpine]]-[[Renault in Formula One|Renault]] |1:28.752 |1:28.564 |1:28.647 | align="center" |9 |- ! scope="row" |10 | align="center" |99 | data-sort-value="str" |{{nowrap|{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Antonio Giovinazzi]]}} |{{nowrap|[[Alfa Romeo in Formula One|Alfa Romeo Racing]]-[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]]}} |1:28.889 |1:28.616 |1:28.754 | align="center" |10 |- ! scope="row" |11 | align="center" |3 | data-sort-value="per" |{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Daniel Ricciardo]] |[[McLaren]]-[[Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains|Mercedes]] |1:28.216 |1:28.668 | align="center" data-sort-value="11" style="background: silver" |<small>N/A</small> | align="center" data-sort-value="21" |11 |- ! scope="row" |12 | align="center" |7 | data-sort-value="gio" |{{flagicon|FIN}} [[Kimi Räikkönen]] |[[Alfa Romeo in Formula One|Alfa Romeo Racing]]-[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] |1:28.856 |1:28.885 | align="center" data-sort-value="12" style="background: silver" |<small>N/A</small> | align="center" |12 |- ! scope="row" |13 | align="center" |14 | data-sort-value="tsu" |{{Flagicon|ESP}} [[Fernando Alonso]] |[[Alpine F1 Team|Alpine]]-[[Renault in Formula One|Renault]] |1:28.944 |1:28.920 | align="center" data-sort-value="13" style="background: silver" |<small>N/A</small> | align="center" |13 |- ! scope="row" |14 | align="center" |63 | data-sort-value="rai" |{{flagicon|GBR}} [[George Russell (racing driver)|George Russell]] |[[Williams Grand Prix Engineering|Williams]]-[[Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains|Mercedes]] |1:28.926 |1:29.054 | align="center" data-sort-value="14" style="background: silver" |<small>N/A</small> | align="center" |14 |- ! scope="row" |15 | align="center" |55 | data-sort-value="rus" |{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Carlos Sainz Jr.]] |[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] |1:28.236 |1:53.652 | align="center" data-sort-value="15" style="background: silver" |<small>N/A</small> | align="center" |15 |- ! scope="row" |16 | align="center" |6 | data-sort-value="oco" |{{flagicon|CAN}} [[Nicholas Latifi]] |[[Williams Grand Prix Engineering|Williams]]-[[Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains|Mercedes]] |1:29.177 | align="center" data-sort-value="16" style="background: silver" |<small>N/A</small> | align="center" data-sort-value="16" style="background: silver" |<small>N/A</small> | align="center" |16 |- ! scope="row" |17 | align="center" |5 | data-sort-value="lat" |{{flagicon|GER}} [[Sebastian Vettel]] |[[Aston Martin in Formula One|Aston Martin]]-[[Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains|Mercedes]] |1:29.198 | align="center" data-sort-value="17" style="background: silver" |<small>N/A</small> | align="center" data-sort-value="17" style="background: silver" |<small>N/A</small> | align="center" |17 |- ! scope="row" |18 | align="center" |18 | data-sort-value="vet" |{{flagicon|CAN}} [[Lance Stroll]] |[[Aston Martin in Formula One|Aston Martin]]-[[Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains|Mercedes]] |1:29.368 | align="center" data-sort-value="18" style="background: silver" |<small>N/A</small> | align="center" data-sort-value="18" style="background: silver" |<small>N/A</small> | align="center" |18 |- ! scope="row" |19 | align="center" |47 | data-sort-value="sch" |{{Flagicon|DEU}} [[Mick Schumacher]] |[[Haas F1 Team|Haas]]-[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] |1:29.464 | align="center" data-sort-value="19" style="background: silver" |<small>N/A</small> | align="center" data-sort-value="19" style="background: silver" |<small>N/A</small> | align="center" |19 |- ! scope="row" |20 | align="center" |9 | data-sort-value="maz" |{{flagg|cnxa|Russian Automobile Federation|image=Russian Automobile Federation flag.svg|clink=List_of_FIA_member_organisations#Russia}}[[Nikita Mazepin]]{{efn|[[Nikita Mazepin]] is Russian, but he competed as a neutral competitor using the designation RAF ([[Russian Automobile Federation]]), as the [[Court of Arbitration for Sport]] upheld a ban on Russia competing at World Championships. The ban was implemented by the [[World Anti-Doping Agency]] in response to the [[Doping in Russia|state-sponsored doping program]] of Russian athletes.<ref name="doping">{{cite web|url=https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/russia-mazepin-neutral-flag-f1/5345260/|title=Mazepin set to race under neutral flag after CAS ruling extends to F1|author=Luke Smith|website=motorsport.com|date=5 February 2021|access-date=5 February 2021|archive-date=5 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205211019/https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/russia-mazepin-neutral-flag-f1/5345260/|url-status=live}}</ref>|name=RAF|group=}} |[[Haas F1 Team|Haas]]-[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] |1:30.473 | align="center" data-sort-value="20" style="background: silver" |<small>N/A</small> | align="center" data-sort-value="20" style="background: silver" |<small>N/A</small> | align="center" |20 |- ! colspan="8" |[[107% rule|107% time]]: 1:34.182 |- ! colspan="8" |Source:<ref>{{cite web|date=4 December 2021|title=Formula 1 STC Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2021 – Qualifying|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2021/races/1106/saudi-arabia/qualifying.html|access-date=4 December 2021|website=Formula1.com}}</ref><ref name="starting grid">{{Cite web|date=4 December 2021|title=Formula 1 STC Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2021 – Starting Grid|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2021/races/1106/saudi-arabia/starting-grid.html|url-status=live|access-date=4 December 2021|website=Formula 1.com|language=en}}</ref> |} == Race == The race started at 20:30 local time on 5 December and lasted for 50 laps.<ref name=":0"/> The race was interrupted with incidents that resulted in one [[safety car]] period, two [[red flag (motorsport)|red flag]]s, and four [[virtual safety car]] periods.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/dec/05/hamilton-wins-chaotic-saudi-arabian-gp-to-draw-level-with-verstappen|title= Hamilton wins chaotic Saudi Arabian F1 GP to draw level with Verstappen|date=5 December 2021|work=Guardian|accessdate=10 December 2021}}</ref> On lap 10, Schumacher lost control of his Haas and smashed into the barriers. This caused the safety car to be deployed, and both of the Mercedes pit, demoting them to second and third. The race was then red flagged, which meant that Verstappen could change tires and would lead the race. After the first standing restart, [[Lewis Hamilton]] and [[Max Verstappen]] were involved in an incident where Verstappen overtook Hamilton off the race track, shortly before a crash involving [[Sergio Perez]], [[Charles Leclerc]], [[Nikita Mazepin]], and [[George Russell (racing driver)|George Russell]] resulted in a second red flag period. This left the cars lined up with Verstappen in first, [[Esteban Ocon]] in second, and Hamilton in third. Initially, Masi offered to re-order the cars with Verstappen and Ocon switching places but was later amended to offer to move Hamilton to second and Verstappen to third, which left the proposed order as Ocon, Hamilton, and Verstappen. This was proposed in lieu of an investigation into Verstappen overtaking Hamilton at the first standing restart, and was only offered to [[Red Bull Racing]] and not put to the other two teams involved in the changing on the restart order, [[Alpine F1 Team]] and [[Mercedes AMG F1]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eurosport.com/formula-1/saudi-arabian-grand-prix/2021/f1-saudi-arabia-grand-prix-live-updates-lewis-hamilton-aiming-to-win-from-pole-after-max-verstappen-_sto8659513/story.shtml|title=F1 Saudi Arabia Grand Prix as it happened – Title race to go to wire after more Hamilton-Verstappen drama|website=Eurosport.com|publisher=Discovery|access-date=13 January 2022}}</ref> Red Bull team principal [[Christian Horner]] compared the actions of race director [[Michael Masi]] to "like being at the local market",<ref>{{cite news|last=Kershaw|first=Tom|date=7 December 2021|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing/formula1/christian-horner-fia-red-bull-b1971167.html|url-status=live|title='Like being at the local market': Christian Horner lifts lid on negotiations with FIA|work=The Independent|publisher=Independent Digital News & Media|access-date=28 December 2021}}</ref> and added: "It felt like today the sport missed [Masi's predecessor] [[Charlie Whiting]]."<ref>{{cite news|last=Braidwood|first=James|date=7 December 2021|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing/formula1/f1-verstappen-hamilton-saudi-arabia-b1971174.html|url-status=live|title=Saudi Arabian Grand Prix shows F1 'misses Charlie Whiting', Christian Horner claims|work=The Independent|publisher=Independent Digital News & Media|access-date=28 December 2021}}</ref> Formula One chief [[Ross Brawn]] said that Masi dealt with the situation in a pragmatic way.<ref>{{cite news|last=Braidwood|first=Jamie|date=7 December 2021|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing/formula1/f1-hamilton-verstappen-masi-saudi-arabia-b1971486.html|url-status=live|title='Like being at the local market': Christian Horner lifts lid on negotiations with FIA|work=The Independent|publisher=Independent Digital News & Media|access-date=13 January 2022}}</ref> Masi commented: "I wouldn't call it a deal, as from a race director's perspective I have no authority to instruct the teams to do anything in that situation. I can give them an offer, [I have] the ability to do that but the choice is theirs. The stewards are obviously empowered to give penalties, but I can give them my perspective. That's why I offered them the ability to give that position up."<ref>{{cite news|last=Braidwood|first=Jamie|date=7 December 2021|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing/formula1/f1-michael-masi-verstappen-hamilton-b1971248.html|url-status=live|title=FIA race director explains decisions behind chaotic Saudi Arabian Grand Prix|work=The Independent|publisher=Independent Digital News & Media|access-date=13 January 2022}}</ref> === Race classification === {| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 85%;" ! scope="col" |{{Tooltip|Pos.|Position}} ! scope="col" |{{Tooltip|No.|Car number}} ! scope="col" |Driver ! scope="col" |Constructor ! class="unsortable" scope="col" |Laps ! class="unsortable" scope="col" |Time/Retired ! scope="col" |{{Tooltip|Grid|Starting grid position}} ! scope="col" |Points |- |- !1 | align="center" |44 |{{flagicon|GBR}} '''[[Lewis Hamilton]]''' |'''[[Mercedes-Benz in Formula One|Mercedes]]''' |50 |2:06:15.185 |align="center" |1 | align="center" |'''26'''{{ref|1|1}} |- !2 | align="center" |33 |{{flagicon|NED}} '''[[Max Verstappen]]''' |'''[[Red Bull Racing]]-[[Honda in Formula One|Honda]]''' |50 | +21.825{{ref|2|2}} |align="center" |3 | align="center" |'''18''' |- !3 | align="center" |77 |{{flagicon|FIN}} '''[[Valtteri Bottas]]''' |'''[[Mercedes-Benz in Formula One|Mercedes]]''' |50 | +27.531 |align="center" |2 | align="center" |'''15''' |- !4 | align="center" |31 |{{flagicon|FRA}} '''[[Esteban Ocon]]''' |'''[[Alpine F1 Team|Alpine]]-[[Renault in Formula One|Renault]]''' |50 | +27.633 |align="center" |9 | align="center" |'''12''' |- !5 | align="center" |3 |'''{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Daniel Ricciardo]]''' |'''[[McLaren]]-[[Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains|Mercedes]]''' |50 | +40.121 |align="center" |11 | align="center" |'''10''' |- !6 | align="center" |10 |'''{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Pierre Gasly]]''' |'''[[Scuderia AlphaTauri|AlphaTauri]]-[[Honda in Formula One|Honda]]''' |50 |<nowiki>+41.613</nowiki> |align="center" |6 | align="center" |'''8''' |- !7 | align="center" |16 |'''{{flagicon|MON}} [[Charles Leclerc]]''' |[[Scuderia Ferrari|'''Ferrari''']] |50 |<nowiki>+44.475</nowiki> |align="center" |4 | align="center" |'''6''' |- !8 | align="center" |55 |'''{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Carlos Sainz Jr.]]''' |[[Scuderia Ferrari|'''Ferrari''']] |50 |<nowiki>+46.606</nowiki> |align="center" |15 | align="center" |'''4''' |- !9 | align="center" |99 |'''{{nowrap|{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Antonio Giovinazzi]]}}''' |'''{{nowrap|[[Alfa Romeo in Formula One|Alfa Romeo Racing]]-[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]]}}''' |50 |<nowiki>+58.505</nowiki> |align="center" |10 | align="center" |'''2''' |- !10 | align="center" |4 |'''{{flagicon|GBR}} [[Lando Norris]]''' |'''[[McLaren]]-[[Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains|Mercedes]]''' |50 |<nowiki>+1:01.358</nowiki> |align="center" |7 | align="center" |'''1''' |- !11 | align="center" |18 |{{flagicon|CAN}} [[Lance Stroll]] |[[Aston Martin in Formula One|Aston Martin]]-[[Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains|Mercedes]] |50 |<nowiki>+1:17.212</nowiki> |align="center" |18 | |- !12 | align="center" |6 |{{flagicon|CAN}} [[Nicholas Latifi]] |[[Williams Grand Prix Engineering|Williams]]-[[Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains|Mercedes]] |50 |<nowiki>+1:23.249</nowiki> |align="center" |16 | |- !13 | align="center" |14 |{{Flagicon|ESP}} [[Fernando Alonso]] |[[Alpine F1 Team|Alpine]]-[[Renault in Formula One|Renault]] |49 | +1 lap |align="center" |13 | |- !14 | align="center" |22 |{{Flagicon|JPN}} [[Yuki Tsunoda]] |[[Scuderia AlphaTauri|AlphaTauri]]-[[Honda in Formula One|Honda]] |49 | +1 lap{{ref|3|3}} |align="center" |8 | |- !15 | align="center" |7 |{{flagicon|FIN}} [[Kimi Räikkönen]] |[[Alfa Romeo in Formula One|Alfa Romeo Racing]]-[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] |49 | +1 lap |align="center" |12 | |- !Ret | align="center" |5 |{{flagicon|GER}} [[Sebastian Vettel]] |[[Aston Martin in Formula One|Aston Martin]]-[[Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains|Mercedes]] |44 |{{nowrap|Collision damage}} |align="center" |17 | |- !Ret | align="center" |11 |{{Flagicon|MEX}} [[Sergio Pérez]] |[[Red Bull Racing]]-[[Honda in Formula One|Honda]] |14 |Collision |align="center" |5 | |- !Ret | align="center" |9 |{{flagg|cnxa|Russian Automobile Federation|image=Russian Automobile Federation flag.svg|clink=List_of_FIA_member_organisations#Russia}}[[Nikita Mazepin]]{{efn|name=RAF}} |[[Haas F1 Team|Haas]]-[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] |14 |Collision |align="center" |20 | |- !Ret | align="center" |63 |{{flagicon|GBR}} [[George Russell (racing driver)|George Russell]] |[[Williams Grand Prix Engineering|Williams]]-[[Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains|Mercedes]] |14 |Collision |align="center" |14 | |- !Ret | align="center" |47 |{{Flagicon|DEU}} [[Mick Schumacher]] |[[Haas F1 Team|Haas]]-[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] |8 |Accident |align="center" |19 | |- class="sortbottom" |colspan="8" align="center"|''[[Fastest lap]]: {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Lewis Hamilton]] ([[Mercedes-Benz in Formula One|Mercedes]]) – 1:30.734 (lap 47)'' |- class="sortbottom" | colspan="8" style="background-color:#EAECF0;text-align:center" |'''Source:'''<ref name="starting grid"/><ref name="race result">{{cite web|date=5 December 2021|title=Formula 1 STC Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2021 – Race Result|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2021/races/1106/saudi-arabia/race-result.html|access-date=5 December 2021|website=Formula1.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=5 December 2021|title=Formula 1 STC Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2021 – Fastest Laps|url=https://www.formula1.com/en/results.html/2021/races/1106/saudi-arabia/fastest-laps.html|access-date=5 December 2021|website=Formula1.com}}</ref> |} '''Notes''' * {{note|1|1}} – Includes one point for fastest lap. * {{note|2|2}} – [[Max Verstappen]] received a five-second time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage. He also received a ten-second time penalty after the race for causing a collision with [[Lewis Hamilton]]. His final position was not affected by the penalties.<ref name="race result"/> * {{note|3|3}} – [[Yuki Tsunoda]] finished 13th, but received a five-second time penalty for causing a collision with [[Sebastian Vettel]].<ref name="race result"/> ==Championship standings after the race== {{col-start}} {{col-2}} '''Drivers' Championship standings''' {|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%;" ! scope="col" | ! scope="col" | {{Tooltip|Pos.|Position}} ! scope="col" | Driver ! scope="col" | Points |- |align="left"|[[File:1rightarrow blue.svg|10px|alt=Unchanged]] |align="center"|1 |{{flagicon|NED}} [[Max Verstappen]] |align="left"|369.5 |- |align="left"|[[File:1rightarrow blue.svg|10px|alt=Unchanged]] |align="center"|2 |{{flagicon|GBR}} [[Lewis Hamilton]] |align="left"|369.5 |- |align="left"|[[File:1rightarrow blue.svg|10px|alt=Unchanged]] |align="center"|3 |{{flagicon|FIN}} [[Valtteri Bottas]] |align="left"|218 |- |align="left"|[[File:1rightarrow blue.svg|10px|alt=Unchanged]] |align="center"|4 |{{flagicon|MEX}} [[Sergio Pérez]] |align="left"|190 |- |align="left"| [[File:1uparrow green.svg|10px]] 1 |align="center"|5 |{{flagicon|MON}} [[Charles Leclerc]] |align="left"|158 |- !colspan=4|Source: |} {{col-2}} '''Constructors' Championship standings''' {|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%;" ! scope="col" | ! scope="col" | {{Tooltip|Pos.|Position}} ! scope="col" | Constructor ! scope="col" | Points |- |align="left"|[[File:1rightarrow blue.svg|10px|alt=Unchanged]] |align="center"|1 |{{flagicon|GER}} [[Mercedes-Benz in Formula One|Mercedes]] |align="left"|587.5 |- |align="left"|[[File:1rightarrow blue.svg|10px|alt=Unchanged]] |align="center"|2 |{{flagicon|AUT}} [[Red Bull Racing]]-[[Honda in Formula One|Honda]] |align="left"|559.5 |- |align="left"|[[File:1rightarrow blue.svg|10px|alt=Unchanged]] |align="center"|3 |{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] |align="left"|307.5 |- |align="left"|[[File:1rightarrow blue.svg|10px|alt=Unchanged]] |align="center"|4 |{{flagicon|GBR}} [[McLaren]]-[[Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains|Mercedes]] |align="left"|269 |- |align="left"|[[File:1rightarrow blue.svg|10px|alt=Unchanged]] |align="center"|5 |{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Alpine F1 Team|Alpine]]-[[Renault in Formula One|Renault]] |align="left"|149 |- !colspan=4|Source: |} {{col-end}} * <small>'''Note''': Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings. * [[Max Verstappen]] is ahead of [[Lewis Hamilton]] courtesy of having won more races (nine compared to eight).</small> == See also == * [[2021 Jeddah Formula 2 round]] == Notes == {{notelist|1}} ==References== {{reflist}} == External links == {{F1 race report | Name_of_race = [[Saudi Arabian Grand Prix]] | Year_of_race = 2021 | Previous_race_in_season = [[2021 Qatar Grand Prix]] | Next_race_in_season = [[2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix]] | Previous_year's_race = None | Next_year's_race = [[2022 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix]] }} {{F1GP 2020–29}} [[Category:2021 Formula One races|Saudi Arabia]] [[Category:Saudi Arabian Grand Prix]] [[Category:2021 in Saudi Arabian sport]] [[Category:December 2021 sports events in Asia|Saudi Arabian Grand Prix]] [[Category:Formula One controversies]]'