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The street race in Jeddah is gearing up to be a captivating event, particularly with many drivers positioning themselves irregularly on the grid.
At the forefront, Max Verstappen from Red Bull has secured pole position but will face a stiff challenge from the speedy McLaren of Oscar Piastri. Nearby, Lando Norris is starting from 10th position after a mishap during qualifying, trailing behind key competitors like Carlos Sainz from Williams, Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari, and Yuki Tsunoda.
While prior races in circuits like Suzuka raised concerns about limited overtaking opportunities, and Bahrain provided a more dynamic race with significant tire wear and multiple pit stops, Jeddah’s layout presents a hybrid scenario. While drivers will contend with dirty air and traffic, the expectations of a one-stop race, combined with Pirelli’s softer tire choices and three effective DRS zones, should enhance overtaking possibilities.
Will Max Verstappen Manage to Hold Off Oscar Piastri?
Despite another impressive pole position, Verstappen expressed doubts about replicating his previous race performance in Saudi Arabia. With McLaren’s efficient rear tire management emerging as a critical factor, Red Bull’s race pace appears less competitive. However, data from the previous practice sessions could be misleading due to Verstappen experimenting with setups, combined with the interruptions caused by Tsunoda’s crash in FP2.
“The car seems to have improved since Friday, which I hope will aid our tire performance too,” the Dutch driver remarked. “However, I’m not optimistic about being highly competitive, particularly on the medium tires. I have not evaluated the hard tire yet, but it’s generally during races that the teams face the most significant challenges with heating,” he noted.
If the race were held under scorching daylight, Piastri might dominate, yet the Australian feels confident about his chances to surpass Verstappen. “I’m optimistic with our current performance. The multiple DRS zones will offer a contrasting challenge compared to Suzuka,” Piastri stated.
The pivotal factor in the race may well be the unused hard tire, identified as Pirelli’s C3 compound, which previously served as their soft choice in Bahrain. Pirelli’s motorsport chief, Mario Isola, noted that a one-stop strategy utilizing hard and medium tires is likely the most efficient approach.
“This year’s C3, C4, and C5 compounds are designed for enhanced management compared to the previous season. However, the one-stop remains the fastest strategy on paper with mediums and hards,” he explained. “Although the medium tire offers close performance, it does tend to degrade quicker.”
What Can We Expect From Lando Norris Starting from 10th?
As Piastri focuses on overtaking Verstappen, Norris finds himself in a challenging position amid a group of competitors, which could complicate his race. The tire choices for McLaren still hinge on strategy; Isola suggested that both hard and medium options have their respective advantages.
“Starting on hard tires positions you well for a late-race safety car, as the hard tire is closely matched to the medium without risking substantial early position losses. If there is no safety car, that choice still permits strategic flexibility regarding pit stops,” he clarified.
“Importantly, traffic management is also a concern. If you start from a disadvantaged position, it’s crucial to clear traffic quickly, making medium tires a more appealing option to start with if both McLarens opt for them,” Isola added.
Norris is the only frontrunner with a fresh set of soft tires available; however, Isola indicated this option may not be viable unless there’s a late safety car incident.
“The soft tire isn’t entirely ruled out, yet if you have around 15 laps remaining, it’s more efficient to switch to hards,” Isola remarked. “A last-minute switch would depend significantly on the lap count remaining, distinguishing it from a less advantageous medium to hard swap.”
Source
www.autosport.com