The 2024 Saudi Arabian GP saw Red Bull dominate both qualifying and the race, while Ferrari's performance was ultimately disappointing. McLaren's balanced drivers performed well, Mercedes struggled with poor qualifying, and Haas scored its first point of the year. Aston Martin's potential seemed to have swapped from 2023, Williams ended up near the points, RB had a neutral weekend, Alpine had a more positive showing, and Sauber faced challenges with Zhou Guanyu crashing and missing qualifying.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc praised F2 driver Oliver Bearman for his impressive performance in the Saudi Arabian GP, where Bearman finished seventh after stepping in for the injured Carlos Sainz. Leclerc commended Bearman's skills and predicted his future in F1, while also expressing satisfaction with his own race, finishing behind Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.
Max Verstappen won the 2024 F1 Saudi Arabian GP, beating his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. Verstappen led from the start, with Perez briefly taking second place from Leclerc. Despite a penalty during pitstops, Perez's finishing position was unaffected. The race saw exciting battles and incidents, with Verstappen ultimately securing a comfortable victory.
The upcoming Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is anticipated to be one of the most physically and mentally demanding races of the Formula 1 season, with drivers expressing concerns about the high-speed street track's close-proximity walls, anti-clockwise configuration, and smooth surface that allows for minimal tire degradation. The challenging nature of the circuit, characterized by fast corners and constant G-forces, is expected to test drivers' precision and concentration, making it a particularly difficult and "unpleasant" race, as highlighted by Red Bull's Sergio Perez and echoed by his F1 peers.
Teams at the F1 Saudi Arabian GP have made various technical modifications to their cars, including altered rear wing designs, cooling configurations, and front brake duct arrangements. McLaren, Sauber, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Mercedes, Red Bull, and Williams are among the teams showcasing these changes, with a focus on reducing drag, managing airflow, and adapting to the specific demands of the Saudi Arabian circuit.
Fernando Alonso tops the second practice session at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit for the 2024 Saudi Arabian GP, with George Russell in second and Max Verstappen in third. Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez complete the top five, while Lewis Hamilton faces scrutiny for impeding another driver.
Fernando Alonso, the Aston Martin driver, has criticized the FIA system for the late penalty he received during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Alonso was given a 10-second penalty after the podium ceremony for work starting on his car when the first penalty was served in his pitstop, dropping him to fourth in the final results. Alonso felt the FIA must speed up its penalty decision rather than overhaul the process, as he felt had he been told about the 10-second penalty during the race he could have pulled out a bigger gap over George Russell in a bid to keep third place.
Sergio Perez wins the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after overtaking Fernando Alonso on lap four and leading the race until the end. Max Verstappen, who started 15th, charged up to second place but was unable to catch his teammate due to a driveshaft problem. Alonso was initially third but received a 10-second penalty for not serving his time penalty correctly during his pitstop, dropping him to fourth behind George Russell. Red Bull Racing dominated the race, with Perez and Verstappen finishing first and second respectively.
Sergio Perez wins the F1 Saudi Arabian GP, with Max Verstappen finishing second and Fernando Alonso in third place after serving a five-second penalty. Perez overcame a setback at the start and chased down Alonso to regain the lead. Verstappen closed the gap to Perez but was ultimately concerned with securing the fastest lap point. Alonso was initially third but was penalized for serving his penalty incorrectly, promoting George Russell to third place. Lewis Hamilton finished fifth, and Kevin Magnussen secured Haas' first point of the season.
Formula 1 teams are making adjustments to their cars for the Saudi Arabian GP, with different downforce and drag levels being used to suit the top-speed demands of the Jeddah street circuit. Teams are also introducing wider developments to their cars in a bid to make progress over the remainder of the season. Here are some of the most interesting designs, car elements, and upgrades spotted in the Saudi Arabian pitlane.
Fernando Alonso, driver for Aston Martin, does not expect to beat Red Bull in the Saudi Arabian F1 GP, despite setting the third fastest time in qualifying. He believes that Red Bull is "in another league" compared to the rest of the field. Alonso expects a tight race on Sunday, with small gaps between Aston Martin's rivals throughout their varying long runs in the practice sessions. He feels that the AMR23's tyre management is already strong, but luck will also be a factor.
Max Verstappen dominated both Friday practice sessions ahead of F1's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, showing great pace on longer-running simulations in the second half of FP2. Red Bull's early credentials were backed up, making it hard for any other team to challenge for a podium finish. Fernando Alonso impressed in his AMR23, but Red Bull remains the team to beat. Ferrari's engine power level caveat still applies, while Mercedes showed a comparative lack of strength in the corners.
F1 teams are making modifications to their cars for the Saudi Arabian GP, with Mercedes and Aston Martin altering their rear wings, Alpine adding additional cooling, and Ferrari, Red Bull, and McLaren making changes to their brake assemblies. Alfa Romeo has made alterations to its DRS pod, while Williams and Haas are opting for lower downforce packages to boost straightline speed. The cost cap and resource restrictions have forced teams to find ways to improve performance without manufacturing new parts for every race.
