RED BULLSEYE

Perez and Verstappen finish in first and second to emphasise team's dominance and Sergio warns: We are going to get even better!

- PHIL DUNCAN 

SERGIO PEREZ warned Red Bull will only improve after he held off team-mate Max Verstappen to win the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

Perez crossed the finishing line 5.3 seconds clear of Verstappen, who fought back from 15th after he limped out of qualifying with a driveshaft failure, to ensure Red Bull’s dominant start to the new season continued in Jeddah.

A 10-second time penalty imposed on Fernando Alonso by the stewards dropped him down to fourth, with George Russell promoted to third. His Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton was fifth.

Red Bull are on another planet this season and their crushing one-two finish – their second in as many races – will be a major cause of concern for F1 bosses as it embarks on a record 23-round calendar.

But Perez said: “We will keep pushing, and keep pushing hard. We have got the fastest car – and I am very happy about that.”