The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix had several highlights, including Oliver Bearman and Max Verstappen. However, there were also some teams and drivers who faced difficulties during the weekend in Jeddah.
The race in Jeddah is known for its thrilling action on the F1 calendar. The high-speed nature of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit pushes drivers to the limit, with no room for errors. In the 2024 edition of the race, Max Verstappen continued his winning streak with Red Bull, securing another first and second place.
Despite Verstappen’s domination, there was plenty of action throughout the grid. Lando Norris narrowly avoided a collision with Yuki Tsunoda even before the race began. Additionally, a rookie driver showcased his talent by replacing another driver. The team fought against Red Bull, but Ferrari still has a long way to go to match the current world champions.
Unfortunately, the street race in Jeddah did not go well for some drivers. One driver received a penalty for an unsafe release in the pit lane, while another faced multiple penalties during the race. Despite the lack of on-track overtaking, fans were still treated to plenty of excitement. This article will explore the winners and losers of the Saudi Arabian GP.
Max Verstappen entered the weekend in Jeddah as the favorite to win after his dominant performance in Bahrain. The 26-year-old, three-time world champion secured pole position ahead of Charles Leclerc. Verstappen had a good start, allowing him to establish a comfortable lead.
After the first lap, Verstappen already had a lead of over a second. From there, he continued to dominate the race and eventually emerged as the winner. Verstappen admitted to struggling with slippery tires, but his significant advantage allowed him to secure his ninth consecutive victory.
The advantage of Verstappen’s pace over his competitors is evident, and he will likely seek to extend his winning streak throughout the season. Red Bull currently holds a strong position ahead of their rivals, and fans can expect to see Verstappen continue to succeed in the upcoming races.
The Mercedes F1 team has faced difficulties in the era of F1 ground effect. Despite significant developments made to their car for this season, both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell failed to fight for victory in Jeddah.
Hamilton finished ninth, expressing his dissatisfaction with the Mercedes W15 and its performance. Russell had a slightly better result, finishing in sixth place. However, both drivers struggled to perform at their best during the race.
Mercedes lagged behind Ferrari and failed to surpass McLaren. It will be interesting to see how the team will use the feedback from Hamilton and Russell to make improvements throughout the season.
Oliver Bearman received a call from Ferrari to replace Carlos Sainz at the Saudi Arabian GP. Despite having little time in the SF24 before qualifying, the 18-year-old driver rose to the challenge and secured an impressive 11th place in qualifying.
Bearman continued to impress in the race, making fearless overtakes in braking zones. He gained several positions and ended up finishing in seventh place. The British driver made a strong debut for Maranello and hopes to secure a full-time seat in Formula 1 next season.
Daniel Ricciardo, who has his eye on Sergio Perez’s Red Bull seat for 2025, struggled to surpass his teammate Yuki Tsunoda in Jeddah. After a disappointing performance in Bahrain, Ricciardo found himself at the back of the grid, lacking the necessary pace to make significant advances for his team.
Ricciardo finished in 16th place, ahead only of the two Stake F1 cars. He will need to improve his performance in the upcoming races to stay in contention for a spot in 2025. On the other hand, Tsunoda’s strong performances may open up opportunities for him in the F1 driver market.
The Haas F1 team faced setbacks during the winter break, with team owner Gene Haas parting ways with Guenther Steiner. The team did not invest much in their development, and the new team boss expected them to stay at the bottom of the standings.
However, Haas exceeded expectations. One driver, in particular, stood out for the team, securing a Q3 qualification in the Bahrain GP and delivering an impressive race in Jeddah. Despite receiving time penalties, the German driver finished in 10th place, a significant achievement for the team.
Another Haas driver showed promising pace in the race. However, due to time penalties, he was unable to secure a score. Nevertheless, the team is pleased with their season start.
The Alpine F1 team had a tough start to the season. Their pre-season was marked by a slow and heavy car, and both drivers struggled to keep up with their competitors. The Renault factory team even saw resignations after the race, indicating the team’s difficulties.
The Saudi Arabian GP continued Alpine’s disappointing race. One driver experienced gearbox issues and was forced to retire, while the other managed to finish in 13th place. Alpine remains the slowest team on the grid, but there is hope for improvement based on the performance of one of their drivers.
It is clear that Alpine will face a tough campaign in 2024, but the team is working on a new structure to turn the situation around in the long term.
© 2024
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