09/03/2024
NEWS STORY
Well, in all honesty, there is little we've seen thus far to suggest that Mas Verstappen isn't going to make it two out of two today, the Dutchman showing strong pace all weekend at a circuit he hasn't always performed well at.
Indeed, the only potential threat, other than losing the lead at the very start, is that the Dutchman pulls off track twenty or so laps into the race as sick to death of the ongoing dramas at Red Bull as the rest of us.
Seriously, every day it gets a little more sordid as this tawdry tale takes another twist.
Yesterday Helmut Marko claimed that he was facing suspension, at which point Max leapt to his defence.
The Austrian left the paddock, presumably for the weekend, but has today shown up with Oliver Mintzlaff, the managing director of Red Bull GmbH.
Adding to it all, Toto Wolff suggested that countryman Marko would be welcome at Mercedes - assuming he brings Max with him - but ignoring the fact that Wolff will be revelling in the chaos damaging his rival team does anyone seriously believe he and Marko could really work together.
If nothing else, amidst speculation that it was Marko who released the documents relating to Horner last week, isn't it somewhat ironic that Red Bull's Lord High Executioner could himself be facing the chop.
In many ways the situation is similar to that of so many successful bands, not least the Beatles, leaving one to ponder which of the leading characters in this sorry saga is Yoko.
Charles Leclerc has looked good - but then again he did last week until Saturday - as has Fernando Alonso and (2023 winner) Sergio Perez.
Only marginally off the pace are the McLarens with the Mercedes pair around 0.2s behind, Russell and Hamilton both encountering bouncing in the W15.
It's difficult to see any surprises in terms of strategy as a one-stop is almost obligatory. The only unknown might be what compound to run alongside the medium, which contrary to what we saw in Sakhir last week, is working very well both in terms of performance and degradation.
On paper, the quickest strategy is to use the soft at the start before switching to the medium between lap 18 and 25. Starting on the hard before pitting between laps 25 and 32 to take on softs could also be a competitive strategy, possibly in the hope of a Safety Car, which is highly likely on a track like this, or maybe do the opposite and use the extra grip from the soft for the start and the first few laps before switching to the hard.
While it's all a bit depressing at the moment, what with Max's continued domination and the ongoing implosion at his team, F1 delivered one of those fairy-tale moments yesterday when 18-year-old Oliver Bearman was called up - with just 3 hours notice - to replace Carlos Sainz.
The youngster gave a good account of himself and almost made it to Q3. This is a driver with enormous potential... even if the sight of him makes most of us feel really old.
The other good news is that Sainz was back in the paddock today following his appendectomy... the Spaniard describing it as a "smooth operation".
As we saw with Guanyu Zhou yesterday this is an unforgiving circuit, where mistakes instantly punished and while the opening race passed without any retirements it is unlikely that all twenty will finish today. With that in mind, we could see some of the midfield make it into the points with Albon, Magnussen and Tsunoda the most likely contenders.
The pitlane opens and Verstappen leads the way, followed by Hulkenberg, Perez, Alonso, Zhou, Magnussen, Bottas and Ricciardo.
Tsunoda forces his way in front of Norris as they leave the pitlane, the stewards noting the RB driver for an unsafe release. "I almost crashed," says Norris, "that's a penalty, yeh?"
Last to join the grid is Sargeant.
Air temperature is 26 degrees C, while the track temperature is 32 degrees.
With 22 minutes to go there is a lot of work going on on the rear of Hamilton's car.
Of the front runners only Alonso and Bearman have a set new softs, while the Bulls and Norris have two sets of fresh mediums. Verstappen, Perez, Russell, Hamilton, Leclerc and Bearman each have a set of fresh hards. The McLaren and Aston Martin pair each have a set of scrubbed hards.
All are starting on mediums bar Bearman and Bottas who are on softs. Alonso and Stroll the only drivers on used rubber.
They head off on the formation lap... all getting away.
"We'll take our chances," says Gasly. "Could be a crazy one," he is told.
The grid forms.
They're way! Verstappen leads into Turn 1, as Leclerc and Perez battle with Alonso looking out for any mistakes involving the pair. Perez gets slightly ahead in Turn 2 but coming out of the corner Leclerc has the edge on the Mexican.
Behind the leaders, Stroll is all over Hamilton, while Bearman is attacking Tsunoda after running wide in Turn 1.
"Box, box," Gasly is told, the Frenchman believed to have a transmission issue.
At the end of Lap 1, it's: Verstappen, Leclerc, Perez, Piastri, Alonso, Norris, Russell, Hamilton, Stroll and Tsunoda.
Alonso is all over Piastri as he seeks to retake fourth, while Russell is pressurising the second McLaren.
Gasly becomes the first retirement of 2024, as Russell complains that Norris jumped the start.
Perez is hard on the heels of Leclerc, passing the Ferrari into Turn 1 to make it a Red Bull 1-2.
After 4 laps Verstappen leads by 2.3s while Bearman is told that he's "doing well" and advised that he is faster than the cars in front.
In the Ferrari garage, Carlos Sainz Snr stands alongside David Bearman.
As he shadows Stroll, while under attack from Bearman, Tsunoda goes quickest in the final sector.
Stroll is off and into the barrier at Turn 23 on Lap 6, bringing out the yellows.
As the Canadian reports that he is OK, the Safety Car is deployed.
"Box, box," Bearman is told, as replays show that Stroll clipped the wall at Turn 22, breaking the suspension and sending him off into the barrier opposite at the next corner.
Verstappen pits as does Perez, Leclerc, Piastri, Alonso, Russell... indeed all bar Norris, Hamilton, Hulkenberg and Zhou, McLaren and Mercedes clearly avoiding the double-stack.
"I nearly crashed with the Red Bull (Perez), reports Alonso following a close encounter during the pit stops. "So close!"
So, Norris leads Verstappen, Hamilton, Perez, Leclerc, Piastri, Alonso, Hulkenberg, Russell and Zhou.
All those who pitted have switched to the hards... Hamilton voices his concern that he's been left out and thereby vulnerable.
The Safety Car is withdrawn at the end of Lap 9. Norris is told not to stress his tyres... easier said than done when Max Verstappen is breathing down your neck.
No surprises at the restart, other than Norris holding off the world champion.
Hamilton goes quickest in S2, as he maintains a 0.632s gap to Verstappen.
"what is he doing," asks Albon after being clouted by Magnussen, as Bearman passes Tsunoda for eleventh.
Perez is under investigation for an unsafe release, while Norris's original start has been noted.
"He didn't give me enough space," says Albon, "you need to speak to the stewards about it."
As Verstappen passes Norris for the lead, teammate Perez passes Hamilton for third. In the process the Dutchman posts a new fastest lap (33.321).
The stewards are also investigating the Albon/Magnussen incident.
Check out our Saturday gallery from Jeddah here.
Bearman passes Zhou for tenth as Russell sweeps past Hulkenberg for eighth.
Leclerc passes Hamilton for fourth as the stewards declare that there is no need for further investigation of Norris's start.
"Any chance of Plan B, because I can't possibly match their speed," warns Alonso as he drops 2.8s behind Piastri into the clutches of Russell.
Perez is given a 5s penalty for an unsafe release and Magnussen a 10s penalty for causing a collision.
"They're killing us on the high speed," reports Hamilton as he comes under attack from Piastri.
The Australian makes his move in Turn 1 but runs wide in the process and though he passes Hamilton he has to give the position back.
Perez closes on Norris, passing the McLaren with ease at the start of Lap 18.
Verstappen posts a new fastest lap (33.059).
Magnussen has been noted for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.
Bearman sweeps by Hulkenberg on the pit straight at the start of Lap 21 to take ninth. Next up for the 18-year-old is Russell who is 6s up the road.
Magnussen is given another 10s penalty... this time for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.
Piastri continues to harry Hamilton who is doing a superb job on those old mediums.
With a 6.7s lead, Verstappen goes quickest in the first two sectors crossing the line at 32.792 to post a new fastest lap.
Verstappen ups his pace, possibly in a bid to stay awake, the Dutchman banging in a 32.683.
"We see Hamilton moving under braking," Piastri is told, "we're reporting it."
Leclerc closes on Norris, who, like Hamilton, is struggling on his worn mediums.
As Tsunoda closes on Magnussen, Ocon, Albon and Sargeant join in the fun... the Dane, of course, nursing those two 10s penalties.
"You need to go more slowly, keeping the cars behind you behind," Magnussen is told as his team seeks to aid teammate Hulkenberg in tenth.
A 32.561 from Verstappen as he extends his lead to 7.1s, while Leclerc passes Norris for third, 8s down on Perez.
Ocon is under intense pressure from Albon as Sargeant keeps a close watch.
A lock-up in the final corner for Magnussen allows Tsunoda to close, however he runs wide in in Turn 1 trying to avoid the Haas and in the process Ocon catches the Japanese and cheekily passes him for 13th as the RB driver drops to 14th.
"Absolutely brilliant Kev, keep at it," Magnussen is told.
"At some point we have to go for Plan A and drive back through those cars, is it possible," Norris is asked. "Yes, but I think we leave it as late as we can," he replies.
Verstappen has his time deleted for exceeding the limits at Turn 23. He maintains an 8s lead over his teammate who is 9.8s ahead of Leclerc.
Tsunoda's evening goes from bad to worse as he is passed by an opportunistic Albon in Turn 1.
Ricciardo and Bottas have joined the Magnussen train, those 20s penalties likely to drop him to last.
Hulkenberg pits at the end of Lap 33, the German rejoins in 11th, behind Zhou who has yet to stop.
"Nico, two seconds ahead, that was fantastic, excellent teamwork Kev!"
"You're doing a mega job," Bearman is told, as Piastri passes Hamilton but overcooks it, runs wide and has to hand the position back.
Bottas makes his second stop of the evening, as former teammate Hamilton makes his first and only. The seven-time world champion switches to softs, rejoining in 9th, 7.7s down on Bearman.
"I gave a kiss to the wall in Turn 9, but all OK," reports sixth-placed Alonso.
A new fastest lap, this time from Perez (32.273).
Norris pits at the end of Lap 37, rejoining on softs in 8th, 6s down on Bearman and 1.4s ahead of Hamilton.
After 40 laps (of 50), Verstappen leads Perez by 8.5s, ahead of Leclerc (+ 12s), Piastri (+ 11.4s), Alonso (+ 4.1s), Russel (+ 1.6s), Bearman (+ 5.1s), Norris (+ 5.8s), Hamilton (+ 1s) and Zhou (+20s).
"That's impressive through the high speed with him," Hamilton says of Norris's pace as the stewards note the McLaren driver for weaving on the straight.
Alonso is warned of Norris's pace but advised that the McLaren driver is battling Hamilton.
Norris is shown the black and white flag for weaving on the straight.
Zhou finally pits at the end of Lap 41, thereby promoting Hulkenberg into the points.
"Will Norris catch us or not," asks Bearman. "Yes, in 4 laps," he is warned.
It's a dreadful stop for Zhou who rejoins in 18th on softs.
"How far away is Hamilton?" asks Bearman. "We might have a chance to stay ahead of both of them," he is told.
In fact, Norris is 3.5s behind the youngster, and Hamilton a further 0.3s down. With 6 laps remaining.
"We can do it," Bearman is told as he is advised that Norris, who is still battling Hamilton, is using up the best of his tyres.
The McLaren has amazing speed through the Turns 10 and 11, and Hamilton drops almost a second behind. However, further around the lap Hamilton is able to close in again.
On the penultimate lap Verstappen laps 13th placed Ocon.
A spin for Ricciardo who is having a lonely evening down in 16th.
As Verstappen begins his final lap, Norris is 2.4s down on Bearman with Hamilton 1.5s behind.
Verstappen takes the flag and his 100th podium.
Perez is second as Leclerc (third) posts the fastest lap (31.632), ahead of Piastri, Alonso, Russell, Bearman, Norris, Hamilton and Hulkenberg.
Albon is eleventh, ahead of Magnussen, Ocon, Tsunoda, Sargeant, Ricciardo, Bottas and Zhou.
As Verstappen, Perez and Leclerc head off for the trackside interviews, Hamilton goes to congratulate Bearman, with teammate Russell also giving the youngster a hug.
"We had quite good pace, as I got the fastest lap at the end," says Leclerc. "It was a bit of a boring race as Red Bull were too quick and behind we had a gap, but we took the maximum points we could today.
"All in all, it's definitely one of the most physical race tracks of the season," he adds, "it's very warm but also with the neck.
"Bearman has done an incredible job, I think today he's been incredible, seventh in your first race having only done FP3 is very impressive."
"We definitely made some good progress," says Perez, "it was a shame we qualified out of the front row as Charles made it tough to get through, and it was a compromised race with the Safety Car so early.
"It's a great day for the team," he adds, "we just have to keep this momentum going, we still have some bits to tidy up but our time will come."
"I think overall a fantastic weekend for the whole team but also for myself as I felt great in the car," says Verstappen. "The last few laps with the backmarkers and old tyres were a bit slippery, but we could manage it with the gap behind.
"Ideally you don't want to do such a long stint with the tyre but we had to."
Like last weekend, two Bulls and a Ferrari, with the real entertainment - other than that awkward moment with the Horners - coming from behind, what with Norris and Hamilton and Magnussen.
And, of course, a superb job by Bearman, amazing to think that an 18-year-old can soak up all that pressure... especially at the wheel of a Ferrari.
"I'm a little tired," he admits, "you can probably see I don't look my best!
"That was incredible, I can't believe how fast we can push. And at the end, those two guys on the softs, the countdown seemed like it was going slower than normal.
"I felt I had a little in hand to handle it, I did my fastest lap on the final one, I wanted to push it and see what I could do. I was building confidence."
We said it during the Schumacher era, and again when Vettel and then Hamilton dominated, it is not about penalising the successful, it is about the opposition raising its game, and the teams now have two weeks in which to raise their respective games.
Check out our Saturday gallery from Jeddah here.