Max Verstappen, the Dutch driver for Red Bull Racing, made a prediction about the upcoming qualifying session at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Formula 1. Verstappen believes that the strong performance of Red Bull’s competitors will result in a fierce battle for pole position.
At the season opener in Bahrain, Verstappen showcased Red Bull’s dominance under the new ground effect regulations by securing a convincing victory with a 22-second lead. However, the team’s expectation that the grid would be more balanced in qualifying was realized as Charles Leclerc of Ferrari set the overall fastest time.
Verstappen, unable to pinpoint the exact reasons for Red Bull’s lack of single-lap speed compared to race pace, expressed optimism about the team’s prospects after a strong showing in practice sessions. He led the first hour of practice in Jeddah and followed up with a third-place finish in the twilight FP2 session.
Overall, Verstappen is pleased with the team’s performance so far and believes they have learned a lot from the practice sessions. He acknowledges that the competition will be tough but is happy with their current performance and looks forward to the next race.
In FP2, Verstappen finished 0.331 seconds behind Fernando Alonso’s fastest lap time for Aston Martin. However, Verstappen suspects that rival teams may have used more powerful engine modes during the session. Nevertheless, he is satisfied with the team’s performance during long runs and remains optimistic about their chances in the race.
In the two previous visits to Saudi Arabia, Sergio Perez secured pole position and expressed his satisfaction with the performance and balance of his RB20 during practice.
Perez reflected on the positive result from Friday, stating that he believes the car is in a favorable position and that only minor adjustments are needed. He expressed confidence in understanding the necessary improvements for tomorrow’s race.
The team has a clear plan to improve the car’s speed, which will bring long-term benefits for both the qualifying session and the race. Perez expressed his satisfaction with the day’s progress and emphasized the importance of putting it all together during qualifying.
Considering the challenges presented by the traffic on the narrow and winding streets, Perez emphasized the need for uninterrupted races. He highlighted the high-speed nature of sector one and the potential risks associated with encountering traffic. Looking ahead to Friday, Perez expressed his expectation for clean laps and a successful day.
