Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Jeddah Street Circuit

[René]

The second race in the desert on a completely different race track. The long straights, unlike last year, should play into Ferrari's hands. It is of course only the second race of the longest calendar ever, but if Ferrari and/or Mercedes are unable to put pressure on Red Bull, it could well be a very boring season.



Unfortunately, Ferrari already starts with a deficit due to the 10 place grid penalty for Charles Leclerc. But the most important thing will be their race speed compared to Red Bull.



Also interesting will be the speed of Aston Martin. It is clear that they have made a big step, but how big this step really is will undoubtedly become even clearer this weekend. The fight behind the big three, or four if we include Aston Martin, will be exciting again. Will Williams be able to score another point, will McLaren find its way up and are the rumors surrounding Haas Automotive just rumors or will this affect the race team? We're going to see it all!

[Carl]

The circuit was designed by Carsten Tilke, son of Hermann! No wonder it has "areas of concern"...

I hope the neurotic tightness of the first two turns has been addressed. Below is what I advised after the first race:

"A redesigned pit exit partly subterranean and joining the track after Turn 3 would allow a more open (and less dangerous) first and second turns. A less abrupt Turn 22 would also improve safety, and if the importance of winning had not been warped by Mercedes and Red bull into infantile excess, this could have been a great race."

Considering his massive wealth and corpulence, a sign of abundance worldwide, the Crown Prince could easily have already done this. Although, from his enclosed overhead perch, the smiling killer may prefer to see chaos and collisions.

[René]

A very dominant Red Bull so far, as to be expected. But there is still a shimmer of hope as track reporters suggest that both Ferrari and Mercedes were visibly running heavier cars yesterday. So fingers crossed we will see a closer qualifying. Such a shame that Leclerc has to start 10 places back as I believe he's probably the only one who can beat Max to pole.

[René]

Quite a spectacular qualy with a surprise failure on Max's Red Bull so that will spice things up a bit tomorrow. But the Red Bull is still by far the fastest car so Checo put it on pole.

Strong lap by Leclerc as always to take second spot but with the penalty he will start from 12. Carlos unfortunately doesn't have that one lap speed as Charles has. He will start from 4th.



The Aston Martin is arguably the second fastest car and Fernando is on fire. I can see him taking the fight to Pérez tomorrow. Also strong lap from Russell. Alpine not looking bad and Oscar Piastri leading McLaren when he needs to. Impressive job.

1. Sergio Perez (Red Bull) 1'28"265
2. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) +0"465
3. George Russell (Mercedes) +0"592
4. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) +0"666
5. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) +0"680
6. Esteban Ocon (Alpine) +0"813
7. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) +0"958
8. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +0"978
9. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) +1"092
10. Nico Hulkenberg (Haas)
11. Guanyu Zhou (Alfa Romeo-Sauber)
12. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
13. Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
14. Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo-Sauber)
15. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
16. Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri)
17. Alexander Albon (Williams)
18. Nyck De Vries (AlphaTauri)
19. Lando Norris (McLaren)
20. Logan Sargeant (Williams)

[René]

Well guys what can I say. You know I always try to be optimistic, but yesterday's Grand Prix doesn't make that easy! I found it quite depressing and it doesn't bode well for the rest of the season. My guess is that Max will be champion before the summer break and will probably win 19 out of 23 races. And the worst part is that I'm not really exaggerating!

The Red Bull is about 1 to 2 seconds per lap faster than the competition with a very strong DRS. If most drivers say before the race that the man who starts on P15 will definitely finish on the podium and maybe win, then something is very wrong. I mean, starting outside the top 10 and then finishing on the podium was a huge achievement. Since the second half of last season, it has become a kind of self-evident for Verstappen/Red Bull.

And then for me as a Ferrari fan it was of course extra painful to see how uncompetitive they were in the race. The first part went ok and Leclerc drove fantastic, but on the hard tire they were disastrously slow. I really didn't understand why they didn't put Charles on the Medium. Given the low tire wear, that would have gone well and he might have been able to join the Mercs. But hey, it is what it is. And please... get rid of that awful DRS!

Glad next race is in Australia and away from the Middle East. Maybe the sun will shine again. 

[robmarsh]

Hi Rene A good summary and from what I have read Max is turning into a brat because he only came second. I don't know how long I will keep investing time in F1 this year but it is not looking like for long. Max vs Checo is like Ham vs Bot...boring.

[Carl]

I suppose the DRS advantage comes from Red Bull's aerodynamic genius, Adrian Newey, whose misguided genius was responsible for a drag reduction system being necessary in the first place. His multitude of winglets, vanes and bargeboards created massive wake turbulence, prompting an artificial solution negating driving skill.  This year, has he provided the most effective resolution for the team that pays him?    

Newey's contribution to racing has been to minimize the importance of driving skill while somehow retaining respect. Not a bad deal for an idiot/savant aerodynamicist.

[chrisb]

I tried to listen to the race on the bbc radio and just switched off in more ways than one, the whole thing just feels so wrong with very little to recommend it I am pleased Checo won as I had wondered if he was going to have a‘problem’ and Verstappen would win
Australia next and at least the circuit is interesting

[mikael]

It seems to happen more often than not, in recent years, that one team steals a march on the other; if it isn't Mercedes then it's Red Bull, or ... Except for the one team that stands out, the rest seem rather equal.

Maybe it can't be otherwise, as everything now is so highly optimized ...

Still, I'm happy for Honda - that they experience the present situation :-)

The Japanese Grand Prix 2015

[René]

Mar 20, 2023 13:25:57 GMT robmarsh said:

Hi Rene A good summary and from what I have read Max is turning into a brat because he only came second. I don't know how long I will keep investing time in F1 this year but it is not looking like for long. Max vs Checo is like Ham vs Bot...boring.

Yeah, Max is apparently still unhappy about finishing second....   If this continues I'm also not sure if I watch all the races live. And anyone dreaming of a Prost/Senna intra-team battle as I read on some sites can keep on dreaming. Max will destroy Checo. Red Bull is Verstappen country.

[René]

Mar 21, 2023 7:25:44 GMT mikael said:

Still, I'm happy for Honda - that they experience the present situation :-)

Yes I can understand that. Honda has had enough difficult years and enough negativity to allow them this success. It's a pity though that the engine is in the back of a Red Bull...

[mikael]

Perhaps some - or all - of you already know this; but it was new to me; and I found out by coincidence (or rather, via a Google search, not directly related): Mark Hughes is now writing for a digital-only site, called "The Race":

the-race.com/

(Just click on the link above.)

Apparently, he has there a follower-group as large as in "the old days" on MSM.

[René]

Mar 21, 2023 16:50:37 GMT mikael said:

Perhaps some - or all - of you already know this; but it was new to me; and I found out by coincidence (or rather, via a Google search, not directly related): Mark Hughes is now writing for a digital-only site, called "The Race":

the-race.com/

(Just click on the link above.)

Apparently, he has there a follower-group as large as in "the old days" on MSM.

I actually didn't know that Hughes wrote for them. Edd Straw is a former Autosport journalist. I do follow The Race on Youtube which is sometimes quite good and informative.

www.youtube.com/@wearetherace

[Carl]

Mar 21, 2023 17:42:36 GMT René said:

Mar 21, 2023 16:50:37 GMT mikael said:

Perhaps some - or all - of you already know this; but it was new to me; and I found out by coincidence (or rather, via a Google search, not directly related): Mark Hughes is now writing for a digital-only site, called "The Race":

the-race.com/

(Just click on the link above.)

Apparently, he has there a follower-group as large as in "the old days" on MSM.

I actually didn't know that Hughes wrote for them. Edd Straw is a former Autosport journalist. I do follow The Race on Youtube which is sometimes quite good and informative.

www.youtube.com/@wearetherace

Thanks Mikael and René,

                                       Reading Mark Hughes is always instructive and Edd Straw encompasses interesting variety across a wide spectrum.

[René]

Another budget cap for Red Bull on the horizon? 

Link: EU raids energy drink maker Red Bull in antitrust probe