Formula One on Jeddah’s streets – talking points ahead of the Saudi Arabian GP
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Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen exits from a completed pit stop despite the light remains red on the gantry during the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix in Sakhir, Bahrain, on April 13.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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JEDDAH – This weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is the final leg of the first “triple header” of the season.
From Suzuka in Japan, to the desert of Bahrain, Formula One now pitches up on the shores of the Red Sea in Jeddah.
Here is a look at five talking points ahead of the fifth round of the 24-race season.
Advantage McLaren
Oscar Piastri put in a faultless display from pole last weekend in Sakhir to make it three wins out of four for McLaren.
That moved the Australian to within three points of championship leader and teammate Lando Norris, who took third in Bahrain.
McLaren's Australian driver Oscar Piastri lifts the trophy after winning the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix.
PHOTO: AFP
With Max Verstappen only sixth and Red Bull struggling to keep tabs on the constructors’ champions, the 2025 title could well develop into a battle between the two McLaren men.
The team have always been insistent on “papaya rules”, theoretically meaning no favouritism between the pair, but that policy will be put under intense pressure if the season develops into a battle between the two gifted drivers.
Red Bull to bounce back?
Red Bull’s problems in Bahrain were well documented, and they will be desperate to bounce back on one of their favourite hunting grounds, with Verstappen winning in Jeddah in 2022 and 2024.
“Bahrain was quite a difficult weekend for us and didn’t really go our way at all. We had some issues that set us back and we still have a lot of work to do on the car to get us where we need to be,” said the Dutchman.
The four-time champion slipped to third in the standings, eight points behind Norris. It is early in the season, but Verstappen and Red Bull will be seeking to get back on track as soon as possible.
The circuit
The race presents a radically different test for car and driver than last week in Bahrain. The fastest street circuit on the calendar offers multiple chances for overtaking, in stark contrast to the most famous street circuit of them all, Monaco.
With a record 27 corners and three DRS (drag reduction system) zones, it can be counted on to serve up plenty of drama, with the walled sides leaving little room for error.
All the ingredients then for a thrilling race under floodlights on Jeddah’s Corniche.
Golf in the Gulf for Gasly
Alpine finally got off the ground in Bahrain, with Pierre Gasly picking up their first points of the season in seventh.
“It’s great to leave Bahrain with points on the board after three challenging races at the start of the season,” reflected the French driver.
He celebrated his bold show by following Rory McIlroy’s emotional Masters triumph at Augusta.
“I really enjoyed staying up late to watch the end of the Masters and I’m delighted for Rory McIlroy, one of our investors, to finally secure the Green Jacket. Congratulations to him!”
It remains to be seen if he will be inspired to pick up more points this weekend.
Wolff praise for Russell
George Russell will be hoping to concentrate on the job he is paid to do – driving – rather than be a part-time electrician.
The Briton, enjoying his best-ever start to a season, took second in Bahrain despite the myriad issues he had to contend with in the cockpit in the closing stages.
“It was a superb drive from him under extreme pressure,” marvelled Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff.
Russell’s teammate Kimi Antonelli was 11th and finished out of the points for the first time in his debut season.
“It has been easy to forget that Kimi is in the very earliest stages of his F1 career given his performances so far. Bahrain will prove an important milestone in his continued development,” Wolff added. AFP
