The Pink Bull driver, second for a lot of the race, took the lead with just some laps to go and by no means relinquished it.
The victory is Verstappen’s first of the 2022 season, having not completed in Bahrain final week.
Ferrari made up the remainder of the rostrum with LeClerc in second and Carlos Sainz in third.
24-year-old Verstappen referred to as it a “actually robust race however a superb race.”
“We have been each battling arduous on the entrance. We simply tried to play the lengthy sport,” Verstappen mentioned.
“They have been actually fast by means of corners and we have been actually fast on the straight. The tires have been carrying out fairly fast. You would see by the top we had a little bit bit extra tempo.
“I attempted to get by, it wasn’t simple, they have been enjoying sensible tips within the final nook, however finally I managed to get forward. Even after that he was always within the DRS.
“Actually blissful we lastly kick-started the season.”
Backward and forward
Having earned his nation’s first-ever pole place, Sergio Perez made an ideal begin on Sunday. The Mexican was fast off the road, blocking second-placed LeClerc in addition to sustaining his lead.
Nevertheless, his dream race quickly started to unravel.
An obvious pretend pit from Ferrari meant Pink Bull selected to pit Perez — dropping locations — simply moments earlier than Nicholas Latifi crashed, inflicting a security automotive to return out which allowed different drivers to pit themselves.
It meant when the protection automotive left the observe, LeClerc lead, adopted by Verstappen with Perez down in fourth after giving up his third spot for a pit lane violation.
And with no obstructions forward of him, the Monegasque driver continued his glorious tempo in 2022, having gained the opening race of the season in Bahrain final weekend.
The 24-year-old managed to carry off a flying Verstappen till a digital security automotive was referred to as into place within the thirty eighth lap after two vehicles each misplaced drive close to the pit lane.
After the second security automotive of the race was stopped, identical to in Bahrain final week, the 2 younger stars did battle as soon as once more.
They went forwards and backwards, with Verstappen getting his nostril in entrance, just for LeClerc to return roaring again.
However with simply over three laps to go, the Dutch driver took the lead but once more and held on with a vice-like grip to assert his first victory of the season.
Each Verstappen and LeClerc have expressed their respect for each other earlier than, they usually could possibly be seen embracing after their thrilling race.
And regardless of a disappointing end in Jeddah for LeClerc, he mentioned that “each race ought to be like this.”
“It was not sufficient as we speak. I actually loved that race, it was arduous racing however truthful! Each race ought to be like this. It was enjoyable, I wished to win as we speak,” he mentioned.
“We had two very completely different configurations with the Pink Bulls. We have been fairly fast within the nook, however sluggish in straights. It was extraordinarily tough for me to cowl Max within the straight. Max did an excellent job, it was a enjoyable race.”
Away from the observe
On Saturday, a joint assertion from Components 1 and the game’s governing physique FIA confirmed the Saudi Grand Prix would happen this weekend regardless of an assault claimed by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on an oil storage facility close to the observe on Friday.
The Saudi Grand Prix is the second race of the brand new season and comes on the seventh anniversary of the beginning of the civil battle in Yemen.
Friday’s explosion on the Aramco facility — an F1 sponsor — occurred about 20 miles (32 kilometers) from the observe and smoke could possibly be seen billowing over the town throughout Friday’s apply.
The second apply session was delayed by quarter-hour as groups and drivers have been referred to as to fulfill organizers. Mercedes group principal Toto Wolff instructed reporters groups had been “assured that we’re protected” and the observe was “most likely the most secure place that you may be in Saudi Arabia” in the meanwhile.
Nevertheless, sources instructed CNN drivers felt uneasy after the assault and plenty of didn’t wish to drive within the race.
The Houthis mentioned they used a “massive quantity” of drones to focus on the ability in Friday’s assault.
The Saudi-led coalition preventing the Houthis in Yemen mentioned one ballistic missile and 10 bomb-laden drones launched from the southern border by the Iran-backed rebels have been intercepted, in line with Saudi state-run TV channel al-Ekhbariya. The assertion didn’t point out an assault on Jeddah.
There have been no casualties up to now within the assault, an official instructed CNN.
Saudi state media later reported the Saudi-led Arab coalition launched airstrikes on what it mentioned have been “risk sources in Sanaa and Hodeidah” in Yemen, following Friday’s assault.
The port metropolis of Hodeidah is used to supply meals and humanitarian help for Yemenis. Gas sometimes comes into the nation’s north by way of the port, which is managed by the Houthi rebels — however the Yemeni authorities, backed by Saudi warships, should give the vessels clearance to dock.
Irene Nasser in Hong Kong, Talia Kayali and Hira Humayun in Atlanta, Nic Robertson, Eyad Kourdi, Amanda Davies and Mostafa Salem contributed to this report.
