Max Verstappen achieved the fastest time in the early practice session for the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Formula 1. He was only two tenths of a second ahead of Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin. George Russell’s Mercedes was the fourth fastest car, closely followed by Sergio Perez’s Red Bull. The top nine fastest cars were all within one second of each other. The Jeddah circuit is much faster than Bahrain, requiring different downforce specifications, and the temperature is currently 20°C warmer than in Bahrain.
Most cars used the hardest Pirelli tire compound (C2) at the start of the session. Russell set the fastest time with this tire, followed by Perez, Verstappen, Leclerc, Alonso, Hamilton, Ricciardo, Sainz, Tsunoda, Piastri, Zhou, Sargeant, Magnussen, and Stroll.
Verstappen had a moment of instability during this phase, complaining of a loose rear end on his RB20 after a sudden slide at Turn 16. Lance Stroll also had a minor incident, touching the wall at Turn 22.
Alonso’s lap time was not representative as he had to return to the pits after hitting the barrier. Hamilton reported that his car was too bouncy at the rear, indicating that Mercedes had not found the ideal suspension setup.
Verstappen completed one flying lap less than Russell with the C2 tire, but Perez’s race plan was similar to Russell’s. This suggests that the faster Mercedes was competitive against the second Red Bull with the C2 tire. However, the Red Bulls may appear more competitive than they actually are due to fast laps on the C2 tire later in the session.
During the initial segment, six cars used the medium tire (C3), which was the soft tire in Bahrain. Gasly had the fastest time with this tire, followed by Ocon, Albon, Norris, Bottas, and Hulkenberg. Norris used his tires early, indicating that McLaren may be more competitive with this tire than it seems.
The performance of the two Alpine cars compared to Albon’s Williams is a positive sign after a disappointing first race in Bahrain. Later in the session, four cars – the Red Bulls and the Haas cars – used the medium tire.
In the final part of the session, sixteen cars ran with the softest tire (C4). Verstappen achieved the fastest time with this tire, followed by Alonso, Perez, Russell, Leclerc, Sainz, Norris, Hamilton, Stroll, Albon, Bottas, Ocon, Sargeant, Piastri, Gasly, and Zhou. Alonso’s lap time was affected by his previous run with the hard tire, but it was still impressive. Stroll also performed well with this tire, considering the time he lost due to his previous incident with the wall.
There were no major complaints from the Red Bull drivers, indicating that they started this event with a better setup compared to Bahrain. Ferrari made adjustments to the downforce between races, while still finding the right balance. McLaren may have more to show in terms of performance, considering their strength on high-speed circuits. However, fuel loads and engine modes need to be taken into account. If Norris was carrying a lot of fuel or had less power, his lap time of less than six tenths off the pace is a decent start.
The Williams and Sauber cars (with Bottas and Ocon, respectively) seem to be performing well on this high-speed layout.
© 2024
A new era for Brazilian football is about to begin. After years of disappointments and below-par results, the national team finally has reasons to be excited. With a new generation of talented players and an experienced coach in charge, Brazil is ready to reclaim its place at the top of world football.
The national team coach, Carlos Silva, is known for his intelligent tactical approach and his ability to motivate his players. He has already coached successful teams around the world and now has the opportunity to lead Brazil in their quest for the World Cup title.
The new generation of Brazilian players is also a reason for excitement. With names like Lucas Silva, Gabriel Oliveira, and Pedro Santos, the team has young and promising talent. These players have shown their potential in European clubs and now they will have the chance to shine in the green and yellow jersey.
In addition, the Brazilian team also has experienced and established players like Neymar and Thiago Silva. These players bring leadership and experience to the team, as well as undeniable talent. Combined with the young talents, they form a balanced and powerful team.
The Brazilian fans are eager to see what this new era will bring. After years of frustration, they are ready to celebrate again. Brazil has always been known for its skillful football and passion for the sport. Now, with a strong and determined team, they have every reason to believe that the World Cup trophy will come back home.
The new era of Brazilian football is about to begin. Get ready to see a renewed Brazil hungry for victories. The national team is ready to conquer the world once again. It’s time to return to the top.
