The performance of Red Bull at the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was incredibly smooth, with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez finishing first and second, respectively. The gap between them was stress-free and required no management. Perez even managed to overcome a 5-second penalty during his pit stop and comfortably maintained his position ahead of Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari. The race itself, despite taking place on an exciting and thrilling track in Jeddah, was surprisingly uneventful.
A notable exception to the unremarkable race was 18-year-old Oliver Bearman, who stepped in as a substitute for the injured Carlos Sainz at Ferrari. Bearman had an exceptional performance, finishing in a solid seventh place. He described the race as an opportunity to push himself to the limit, especially in the final 10 laps when Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton were closing in on him. The low tire degradation on the circuit allowed him to maintain a high level of performance throughout the race.
The low tire degradation also had a significant impact on the overall race strategy. Most drivers opted to make their single pit stop early on, taking advantage of the minimal time lost in the pits. With everyone switching to hard tires, there was no variation in tire choice. This lack of differentiation, combined with a safety car period on lap seven, resulted in all cars pitting at the same time. The low degradation meant that even if the safety car had occurred earlier or later in the race, it would not have made a significant difference.
Staying on track instead of making a pit stop would have been detrimental if other cars had done the same. Position on the track and lack of traffic were more valuable than any potential advantage gained by staying on track. Only a few drivers, including Norris and Hamilton, chose to stay on track initially, but they were unable to catch Bearman due to his impressive performance and low tire degradation.
The lack of variety in the race can be attributed to several factors, including low tire degradation, the safety car period at the beginning, and clear performance differences between the cars. Red Bull had a clear advantage, followed by Ferrari, McLaren, Aston Martin, and Mercedes. Mercedes, in particular, struggled in the fast sections of the track due to jumping problems caused by low suspension heights. Despite this, Hamilton managed to stay ahead of Piastri until his pit stop, allowing Piastri to secure fourth place.
In the end, Verstappen’s victory was relatively routine, having to overtake a few drivers with worn tires. Overall, the race lacked excitement and variety, but it showcased the impressive performance of Red Bull and the young talent of drivers like Bearman.
