Max Verstappen believes that he won't replicate his Bahrain Grand Prix dominance in Saudi Arabia, as the competition appears closer during the initial day of Formula 1 action in Jeddah. Despite leading both sessions at the Jeddah circuit, he thinks the long-run pace indicates a tighter race this weekend. The track's different nature and lesser tire wear allow Red Bull's rivals to pose a greater threat. Fernando Alonso emerged as Verstappen's closest challenger in both practices but downplayed the significance of the timesheets, while Sergio Perez faced a mechanical issue that impacted his performance.
Click here to read the full article by Jonathan Noble (Motorsport.com)
Beam wings, rear wings, and floor edges, oh my! Too many upgrades to count for this weekend’s race.
Toto Wolff asserts that he won't be upset if Lewis Hamilton considers leaving Mercedes in the future if the team fails to quickly deliver a championship-contending car. Although Wolff believes Hamilton is unlikely to leave due to their strong bond, he acknowledges that the seven-time world champion requires a competitive car to win another championship. Wolff emphasizes the importance of understanding emotions within the team, as he and Hamilton, along with other team members, wear their hearts on their sleeves, sometimes leading to controversial statements in the media.
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Franz Tost criticized AlphaTauri's engineers following a disappointing start to the 2023 Formula 1 season in Bahrain, where both drivers finished outside the top ten. Yuki Tsunoda highlights that the AT04's drag caused them to be 12kph slower than Williams on the straights. Tost expressed his lost trust in the aerodynamic engineers, emphasizing that he wants to see better lap times. The AT04's lack of downforce affects the car's drivability, causing issues like instability under braking and overheating rear tires. Tost's distrust stems from the engineers' assurances of progress over the winter, only for the team to struggle in Bahrain.
Click here to read the full article by Rory Mitchell (RacingNews365.com)
Leclerc: “The feeling in the car is pretty good. We will try to maximize our qualifying tomorrow, but given that we will have a 10-place grid penalty on Sunday, our main focus will be on making up those positions during the race.”
