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As the Jeddah street race approaches, anticipation is building for what promises to be a thrilling competition. With several drivers starting from unexpected positions, the potential for an unpredictable race is considerable.
Leading the pack is Max Verstappen of Red Bull, who clinched pole position but will face pressure from the rapid McLaren of Oscar Piastri. Lando Norris will have to navigate the field from the 10th spot after a crash in Q3, positioning himself behind notable competitors like Carlos Sainz from Williams, Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari, and Yuki Tsunoda.
Had the race been held at Suzuka, concerns about limited overtaking opportunities would have been justified. Conversely, Bahrain offered more freedom due to high tire wear and multiple pit stops. Jeddah’s Corniche circuit is expected to fall somewhere in between with its unique characteristics.
While issues such as dirty air and traffic could complicate overtaking, the race is anticipated to feature a single-stop strategy, aided by Pirelli’s softer tire selections and three significant DRS zones that might enhance competition.
Will Max Verstappen Hold Off Oscar Piastri?
After securing another impressive pole position, Verstappen was less confident about his chances in Saudi Arabia, especially given McLaren’s effective rear tire management. This aspect will be critical, as Red Bull’s race pace has shown potential weaknesses. However, data from Friday’s practice sessions, influenced by the experimentation with car setups and Tsunoda’s crash during FP2, may not fully represent true capabilities.
“The car definitely improved compared to Friday, which I hope will assist with tire management,” Verstappen stated. “However, I’m uncertain if we can be competitive, particularly with the medium tires. I have not yet experimented with the hard ones. Generally, teams struggle more with thermal stability during the race.”
If the race were to take place during peak daytime heat, it could have potentially favored Piastri, but he remains optimistic about his chances to overtake Verstappen. “I’m confident in our performance. The multiple DRS zones are a significant advantage compared to Suzuka. Let’s see how much progress we can make,” he noted.
The unused hard tire, designated as Pirelli’s C3 compound—a choice known as the soft tire in Bahrain—could impact strategy. Pirelli’s motorsport chief, Mario Isola, identified the one-stop strategy utilizing hard and medium tires as the most advantageous option.
“With this year’s C3, C4, and C5 compounds, there’s more tire management involved, but a one-stop remains the fastest method on paper with the medium and hard tires,” Isola explained. “The medium offers similar performance, though its degradation is higher.”
Lando Norris’ Challenge from 10th Place
While Piastri’s main focus might be passing Verstappen, Norris faces the additional challenge of navigating through the crowded mid-pack, where he will contend with the dirty air from the cars ahead of him.
When asked about McLaren’s strategy, Isola kept options open for both hard and medium tire starts, highlighting the potential benefits of each approach. “Starting on the hard compound allows one to bet on a later safety car, as it closely matches the medium’s performance and minimizes risks at the start,” he stated. “If there is no safety car, there is room to manage the timing of pit stops.”
Traffic management is essential for those starting deeper in the order, making it crucial to eliminate obstacles swiftly. The choice of tire compounds significantly informs these strategies. Norris is the only major competitor with an unused set of soft tires at his disposal, although Isola remarked that these would likely only come into play if a late safety car were deployed.
“The soft tires are not entirely out of the equation, but a stint of 12-15 laps would favor hard tires instead,” Isola emphasized. “With only a handful of laps remaining, that strategy changes significantly due to the performance advantage of the soft tires.”
Photos from Saudi Arabian GP – Practice & Qualifying
Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting F1 event as the race unfolds.
Source
www.motorsport.com