Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Jeddah

[René]

The chaos outside the track is becoming increasingly crazy, and in the meantime the F1 circus continues as usual. Jeddah is the next stop and we'll give it another shot to see if the Red Bull dominance is indeed as great as Bahrain led us to believe.
Given the high top speed of the Red Bull, it may be a vain hope, but hope springs eternal...




Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has also presented their new Tilke track with a roller coaster, a music center and a luxurious shopping center. In other words, everything the real racing fan desires.... 

[Carl]

If F.I.A. President Mohammed Ben Sulayem is true to his word, I will stand on the top step of the podium in Jiddah.  Negotiations went well and a cheque has been sent.

This is the "high sign" that will ensure victory 

"Saudi Arabia has unveiled the track plans for a circuit at its Qiddiya development, and the project is targeting a future Formula One race. The 21-turn layout has been designed by former F1 driver Alex Wurz and German circuit designer Hermann Tilke, and utilizes the landscape to create multiple elevation changes. The designers say the centerpiece of this will be Turn 1 – known as the “Blade” – that is described as “an awe-inspiring elevated section of circuit that dramatically rises more that 20 stories above the ground.”

Quote from racer.com

Given the royal fondness for brutality, should Saudi dissidents feel safe under the "Blade"?

[chrisb]

money really does talk doesn't it? I can't say I am looking forward to the race at all, 

[René]

FP2 times. I can’t imagine this is the real picture. We’ll see.

1 Fernando ALONSO Aston Martin 1:28.827
2 George RUSSELL Mercedes +0.230
3 Max VERSTAPPEN Red Bull +0.331
4 Charles LECLERC Ferrari +0.353
5 Sergio PEREZ Red Bull +0.473
6 Lance STROLL Aston Martin +0.509
7 Carlos SAINZ Ferrari +0.628
8 Lewis HAMILTON Mercedes +0.677
9 Pierre GASLY Alpine +0.701
10 Oscar PIASTRI McLaren +0.767
11 Yuki TSUNODA RB +0.839
12 Lando NORRIS McLaren +0.931
13 Guanyu ZHOU Kick Sauber +0.950
14 Alexander ALBON Williams +0.962
15 Esteban OCON Alpine +1.074
16 Logan SARGEANT Williams +1.107
17 Kevin MAGNUSSEN Haas +1.158
18 Nico HULKENBERG Haas +1.250
19 Daniel RICCIARDO RB +1.261
20 Valtteri BOTTAS Kick Sauber +1.326

And meanwhile; 
The employee who triggered the internal investigation into Christian Horner has been suspended by Red Bull Racing. This becomes weirder and less transparent by the day. 

[René]

A slightly different picture this time with Red Bull and Ferrari very closely matched. 

But the story of the day was definitely the debut of Oliver Bearman for Ferrari! Poor Carlos Sainz has to undergo surgery due to appendicitis so Ferrari Academy junior Bearman, who was on pole for the F2 feature race, was called to stand in for Carlos.

Oliver Bearman, 18 years old, is now the youngest Scuderia Ferrari Formula 1 driver ever, replacing Ricardo Rodriguez in the history books. He is also the first British Ferrari driver since Eddie Irvine in the late 90's and the first British rookie at Ferrari since Derek Bell in 1968, and the third youngest F1 starter ever! 

And Ollie did a very good job! No mistakes, no damage and finishing the session in a respectable 10th position, just behind Hamilton and Piastri. Impressive stuff.




FP3 times

1 Max VERSTAPPEN 1:28.412
2 Charles LECLERC +0.196
3 Sergio PEREZ +0.494
4 George RUSSELL +0.552
5 Lando NORRIS +0.559
6 Fernando ALONSO +0.626
7 Lance STROLL +0.715
8 Oscar PIASTRI +0.801
9 Lewis HAMILTON +0.856
10 Oliver BEARMAN +0.894
11 Kevin MAGNUSSEN +1.073
12 Pierre GASLY +1.134
13 Yuki TSUNODA +1.160
14 Esteban OCON +1.163
15 Nico HULKENBERG +1.263
16 Daniel RICCIARDO +1.328
17 Alexander ALBON +1.396
18 Valtteri BOTTAS +1.671
19 Guanyu ZHOU +2.327
20 Logan SARGEANT no time

[René]

Pole position for Max Verstappen and, almost as usual, Charles Leclerc next to him on the front row. Impressive showing again from Ollie Bearman missing Q3 by only a few thousands. But he gave it all again and didn’t hit the wall as some of his colleagues did. Great job.





Qualifying results

1 Max VERSTAPPEN Red Bull Racing 1:27.472
2 Charles LECLERC Ferrari +0.319
3 Sergio PEREZ Red Bull Racing +0.335
4 Fernando ALONSO Aston Martin +0.374
5 Oscar PIASTRI McLaren +0.617
6 Lando NORRIS McLaren +0.660
7 George RUSSELL Mercedes +0.844
8 Lewis HAMILTON Mercedes +0.988
9 Yuki TSUNODA RB +1.075
10 Lance STROLL Aston Martin +1.100
11 Oliver BEARMAN Ferrari 1:28.642
12 Alexander ALBON Williams +0.338
13 Kevin MAGNUSSEN Haas +0.378
14 Daniel RICCIARDO RB +0.383
15 Nico HULKENBERG Haas NO TIME SET
16 Valtteri BOTTAS Kick Sauber 1:29.179
17 Esteban OCON Alpine +0.296
18 Pierre GASLY Alpine +0.300
19 Logan SARGEANT Williams +0.347
20 Guanyu ZHOU Kick Sauber NO TIME SET

[René]

The Red Bull cesspool opens even further. This time it's Helmut Marko (his name had to pop up) who has apparently leaked secret information! If he has to resign, Max is free to go...

Max Verstappen has warned Red Bull that if Helmut Marko leaves the company, that would be “not good for my situation” at the team. “ My loyalty to Helmut Marko is very big”.

Good news from the paddock; Carlos is fine after surgery. 

[mikael]

Still very early in a very long season; but you already get the impression that Hamilton's heyday is over; apparently he's slipping, towards the midfield ... But frankly speaking, I hope I've got it completely wrong ... Still, it will be very interesting to see how well he'll be doing in the Ferrari, alongside Leclerc.

[Carl]

I fell asleep, but fortunately didn't miss anything.  The competition among male octopodes for mating rights, narrated by the immensely learned Sir David Attenborough on BBC Planet Earth, was more exciting.

[Carl]

Mar 8, 2024 18:57:55 GMT René said:

The Red Bull cesspool opens even further. This time it's Helmut Marko (his name had to pop up) who has apparently leaked secret information! If he has to resign, Max is free to go...

Max Verstappen has warned Red Bull that if Helmut Marko leaves the company, that would be “not good for my situation” at the team. “ My loyalty to Helmut Marko is very big”.

Good news from the paddock; Carlos is fine after surgery. 

Good to hear that Carlos is doing well. He owes me a result after I voted for him to win in Jeddah

A satisfying conclusion at Red Bull would be Helmut Marko and Jos Verstappen in a fight to the death ending in a tie. 

[chrisb]

I followed the race whilst watching the MotoGP and the rugby, it really does feel that Max has a F1 +1 car and no one else has, maybe Perez has a F1 +1/2 car but this will turn people off in their millions, this isn't domination it's embarrassing that all these mighty firms can't keep up with the fizzy drinks brigade and their soap operas, let alone their racing.

My word what is happening at Alpine, I understand so many staff are leaving Bob Bell being the latest, wonder if Andretti will contemplate buying them out? if that is allowed....

I just can't see anyone other than Max winning a race. 

Has Lewis lost his speed? next year will be interesting, my theory is that as drivers get older - save Alonso- they get more distractions and are less focused - next year for sure will be interested, and Mercedes will do well to employ Carlos if he hasn't already signed for Audi that is 

[René]

This is going to be a looooooooooong season if nothing changes fast. At the moment, it’s only Ferrari that could spoil Red Bull’s party but even they are still a long way off. We’ve seen dominance before but this is insane. There is simply no competition. I mean, Pérez is a good driver but there are at least six or seven drivers faster than him but they don’t stand a chance against this Red Bull. Let alone against Max. That car is so much faster on the straight, with or without DRS. Depressing.

But at least there was something to enjoy with the outstanding performance of Oliver Bearman. How exceptionally good these young drivers are prepared in the simulator is amazing. He only did some laps at Fiorano in older machinery a while back and this weekend only FP3. And then qualify 11th and finish 7th. Mega impressive. 

I think this also makes clear there are several drivers who really need to make place for the younger generation. Ricciardo for sure, Hülkenberg, Stroll definitely, Magnussen, Bottas maybe. Bring in Bearman, bring in young sensation Kimi Antonelli and bring back Liam Lawson who did such an outstanding job last year replacing Ricciardo. 

[robmarsh]

The following drivers won world championships driving Adrian Newey designed cars:

Mansell  1
Prost     1
Hill    1
Villeneuve     1
Hakkinen    2
Vettel    4
Verstappen    3
Total = 13
Drivers who won championships in cars not designed by Newey
Schumacher    7
Alonso    2
Raikonnen    1
Hamilton    7
Button    1
Rosberg    1
Total = 19

That is 40% of the DWC have been gained in Newey designed cars over the last 32 years.  Quite amazing really. I wonder what the driver stats would have been without Newey. Schumacher would have at least two more and so would Alonso. Hamilton would have one more and maybe Senna as well. 

[chrisb]

my word that is some statistic Rob, has there been one other person throughout our history with Adrian's achievements? 

I wondered what the world wide numbers of people watching F1 is like over the past year or so, not sure where you get that statistic, 

the soap opera that is RB drags on, it has the sense of a power struggle with Mercedes somehow involved, 

[chrisb]

Rene, that sounds like a plan. there are a number of drivers who would benefit from going from F1 to WEC and enliven that series - wonder if they will