Welcome to our coverage of the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix from the Jedda Corniche Circuit. This will be the fourth edition of the race and the second race of the 2024 season. The season began last week, with the most interesting talking points being, by far, what is happening with Christian Horner and the Verstappens at Red Bull.
Horner, remember, was being investigated by an independent panel for inappropriate behaviour at Red Bull. On Wednesday, the day before the first practice session, he was cleared. But that was not the end of that with a leak of photos and screengrabs that, it is claimed, were “evidence” used in the investigation. It culminated on Saturday when Jos Verstappen, Max’s father, said that Horner needs to leave Red Bull as it could tear the team apart.
That story rumbles on and is unlikely to conclude, you feel, unless something significant changes at the top of Red Bull Quite, frankly, given the on-track action in Bahrain on Saturday, it is no surprise that the stuff off the track is leading the headlines.
What happened on track? Well, we began this season as we ended last – with utter Max Verstappen domination. Admittedly Verstappen was challenged for pole position and Ferrari actually set the fastest lap on Friday, but he took the lead at turn one and never looked back. The winning margin at the chequered flag was 22 seconds over the next Red Bull of Sergio Perez.
It was clear that neither Mercedes not Ferrari got the most from their package over the weekend and especially in the race, but Verstappen likely had so much time in his pocket to suggest that neither of those teams have closed the gap in any meaningful way. That is not to say that it will not happen throughout the season, but you would expect Verstappen to have accumulated a hefty lead by then.
What to expect in Jeddah this weekend? Well, it is a different track with different characteristics to Bahrain. The high-speed nature should suit McLaren (who had a so-so opening race, finishing sixth and eighth) a little more. And other teams might end up closer to Red Bull.
Anyway, as with last week this is a Thursday-Friday-Saturday race weekend with two practice sessions today, qualifying tomorrow and the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix itself on Saturday. We will be here for all of those sessions, the first of which begins in a little over an hour.
