LEWIS HAMILTON kept his dream of a record eighth world title alive after victory in this explosive Saudi Arabian GP. Hamilton made the perfect start from pole and set about thumping out the laps to extend his lead. Hamilton set fastest lap after fastest lap while the obedient Valtteri Bottas did his job as a tailgunner to hold off the threat of Verstappen. Hamilton in second and Verstappen in third but on the quicker medium tyres. Those tyres played Verstappen’s advantage off the line as his blistering start saw him leapfrog both Ocon and Hamilton into first place. In the laps before, Verstappen had held off Hamilton at turn one but in his defence ran wide and carried on. And so when he did allow Hamilton to pass on lap 42, he then retook P1 in controversial fashion.

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