Pintsized Predictions: 2024 F1 Saudi Arabia Grand Prix Pre-Race

With qualifying wrapped up ahead of Saturday’s 2024 Saudi Arabia Grand Prix, Formula 1 fans have endured a rollercoaster ride over the three sessions. While Max Verstappen‘s domination continued, clearing the field by more than three tenths with a near-perfect lap, a glimpse of the future was also offered in the form of Ferrari’s 18-year-old talent Oliver Bearman.

The Englishman drove himself to a surprise P11 after replacing Carlos Sainz, with the Spaniard side-lined for surgery on his appendix. Although the spotlight in the paddock has centred firmly on the teenager, plenty more factors emerged this week to spice up Saturday night’s showpiece on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit – the fastest street circuit in the F1.

TL;DR: Saudi Arabia GP Podium Predictions

• P1 – Max Verstappen
• P2 – Charles Leclerc
• P3 – Lando Norris

---

Sergio Perez’s surprise slump; ‘Unreal’ Verstappen coasts again

At times today, Max Verstappen made his unbeatable 1:27.472 look like a leisurely cruise. The Dutchman heaped praise on his ‘unreal’ car via the team radio after securing the pole, but the battle for the front rows of the grid made for fascinating viewing under the floodlights. After an initial shaky lap in Q3, due to a botched double warm-up lap strategy from Ferrari, Charles Leclerc delivered a blistering lap at the final opportunity to secure P2 with a 1:27.791.

The Monaco native’s success pushed last year’s race winner, Sergio Perez, down to the second row of the grid. Fernando Alonso also produced a great lap that flirted with a front row start, but he unfortunately could not improve on his second Q3 run and fell to an amicable P4. 

Suspicions that McLaren were hiding pace for the competitive sessions will continue into Saturday as they lock out the third row of the grid tomorrow. The British outfit look promising in a race set up, however, so expect to see P5 Oscar Piastri and P6 Lando Norris passing Alonso’s Aston Martin in the first tyre stint and chasing a podium.

Mercedes W15 causes driver rift; Yuki Tsunoda is Saturday’s dark horse

Mercedes’ problems look set to continue as George Russell and Lewis Hamilton could only manage P7 and P8, with both drivers appearing to lack confidence in their unstable platform. The pair have raised issues with the handling of the Mercedes W15 throughout their time spent around the Red Sea, highlighting the team’s lack of understanding over their optimal set up for this weekend.

Yuki Tsunoda put down a serious marker after last week’s on-track disagreement with teammate Daniel Ricciardo, beating the Australian by five tenths in Q2 and securing a P9 start for the race. As such, RB Racing Bulls must be considered a serious contender for points tomorrow, with Tsunoda’s strong showings ushering the question over who is RB’s number one driver.

Fear the (Oliver) Bear Man; Alpine show no sign of improving soon

Having soared from the Formula 2 team Prema to the Scuderia, Chelmsford-born Oliver Bearman made the most of his chance in the hotseat of the appendicitis-stricken Carlos Sainz. The 18-year-old set records as Ferrari’s youngest ever driver and produced surprising heroics in securing P11 after a disrupted single hour’s practice in FP3. Ferrari’s car has podium level performance on this weekend’s circuit, meaning a decent points haul for Bearman is a realistic prospect. If Charles Leclerc’s stand-in teammate secures solid points, expect the rumour mill to begin swirling around an F1 seat opening up next season for the Bear Man.

Nearer the back, Kevin Magnussen and Alexander Albon continued to cement HAAS’ and Williams’ improved car performance this season with P12 and P13 respectively. Unfortunately for Alpine, their situation remains bleak, perhaps terminal. Both Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly avoided the back row of the grid through the grace of Logan Sargeant’s week-long struggles and Zhou Guanyu’s inability to set a lap following damage to his car.

2024 F1 Saudi Arabia GP Starting Grid

Updated Prediction Performance Table

Updated Teammate Battle