Written by Owen Bradley
Credit: Kym Illman
Round 2 of the Formula One season, just one week on from the opening Bahrain Grand Prix, takes us to Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix takes place at the Jeddah Corniche Street Circuit, which was won by Sergio Perez last time, in 2023. Verstappen from pole and Oliver Bearman making his debut from 11th Place, filling in for Ferrari's Carlos Sainz - we are in for a thrilling F1 race to really kickstart this 2024 World Championship.
F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Results
1st Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
2nd Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing
3rd Charles Leclerc, Scuderia Ferrari
4th Oscar Piastri, McLaren
5th Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
6th George Russell, Mercedes
7th Oliver Bearman, Scuderia Ferrari
8th Lando Norris, McLaren
9th Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
10th Nico Hulkenberg, Haas
11th Kevin Magnussen, Haas
12th Alex Albon, Williams
13th Esteban Ocon, Alpine
14th Yuki Tsunoda, RB
15th Logan Sargeant, Williams
16th Daniel Ricciardo, RB
17th Valtteri Bottas, Kick Sauber
18th Guanyu Zhou, Kick Sauber
DNF Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
DNF Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Grand Prix
Credit: Mark Thompson
Verstappen maintained his lead off the start, as chaos ensued behind him. Lando Norris jumped the start and tried to correct it by slowing back down, meaning he lost multiple places from the start which ended up ruining his race. Oliver Bearman was given a bit of rough and tumble off the start, cars diving up the inside, he managed to survive and maintain his P11 for many laps, before chasing after Yuki Tsunoda for some points. Lance Stroll would collide with the inside barrier on the fast left-right chicane in the final sector, breaking his suspension and sending him into the barriers, bringing out a Safety Car.
Most of the field pitted for the Hard compound tyres, with only Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris staying out on their Medium tyres. Verstappen was able to quickly dispatch the leading car under Safety Car conditions, Lando Norris, as the other cars were locked into a DRS train and struggled for a number of laps to get back past the Briton.
Kevin Magnussen would be given two 10-second penalties, one for squeezing the Williams of Alex Albon up against the outside wall at Turn 4, and another for leaving the circuit at Turn 4 whilst overtaking Yuki Tsunoda. Sergio Perez would also be given a penalty for an unsafe release, as Lando Norris was not given a penalty despite jumping the race start. There are new rules for the 2024 season.
Oscar Piastri would struggle to get past Lewis Hamilton until Lap 38, as the McLaren DRS seems to be slightly weaker, but much stronger than the Mercedes in the Aerodynamic areas of the circuit, where the Mercedes is stronger on straights and weaker in the Aerodynamic twisty sections of the circuit.
Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez absolutely dominated the race, pulling away by well over 10 seconds to the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc. Towards the end of the race, as Norris and Hamilton pitted for Soft compound tyres, they had begun catching Oliver Bearman by over a second per lap, but ended up battling each other and costing one another valuable time, and were ultimately unable to catch Bearman.
Credit: Kym Illman
Verstappen came home, to take his 100th podium finish in F1, with Perez just behind him with the penalty not affecting his race. Leclerc would finish in P3, and took home the fastest lap point. Piastri had a strong finish for P4, ahead of Alonso who had a decent and consistent race for P5, only just ahead of George Russell who had a somewhat quiet race for 6th. But the rookie, Oliver Bearman would finish in P7 for his first ever race in Formula One, with Ferrari, a true star of the future. Hamilton would come over to congratulate his compatriot after Bearman exited his car. Bearman would also win the vote for Driver of the Day by the fans, winning with 48% of the vote.
An interesting race which has certainly kickstarted this Formula One season in 2024. F1 will be back on your screens in two weeks time, for the Australian Grand Prix.