Red Bull’s dominant one-two in Bahrain doesn’t auger well for those who want to see a competitive title race this season. Will Verstappen and Perez blow the competition away in Saudi Arabia? Darry Worthington previews.
Red Bull truly laid down a marker on the opening weekend with Max Verstappen cruising to a win and Sergio Perez comfortably claiming second to ensure a perfect start to the 2023 campaign.
Bahrain also proved fruitful for Aston Martin who fired a warning shot to the rest of the field with Fernando Alonso claiming the final podium berth.
It was to be a forgetful weekend for Ferrari and Mercedes as their drivers struggled to keep pace with the eventual podium sitters, and the sides will be playing catch-up headed into the second race of the 2023 season out in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Sunday 19 March
Jeddah Corniche Circuit
17:00
To Win Race
Max Verstappen (27/100)
Sergio Perez (11/2)
Charles LeClerc (28/1)
Fernando Alonso (9/1)
Carlos Sainz (20/1)
Lewis Hamilton (40/1)
George Russel (40/1)
Lance Stroll (66/1)
Previous Race
We may not have got wheel-to-wheel racing at the very front of the grid in the season opener but there was some quality stuff further down the field. Fernando Alonso produced a solid drive to join the two dominant Red Bulls on the podium, while there were scraps plenty slightly further back.
While it wasn’t a particularly good day for Ferrari with Charles Leclerc retiring from the race on lap 41 with an engine issue, Carlos Sainz did ensure they would salvage something from the race as he secured fourth spot ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Lance Stroll who took fifth and sixth respectively.
The remainder of the Top 10 featured George Russell – who showed that Mercedes may well not be at the races for some time this year – in seventh, Valterri Bottas in eighth, Yuki Tsunoda in ninth and rookie Logan Sargeant in 10th.
Track – Jeddah Corniche Circuit
This will be the third race staged at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, and while the track is still in its infancy on the F1 calendar, it has become one of the more popular venues, boasting one of the faster street circuits we’ve seen in F1.
It is the second longest track drivers will race on this season coming in at a whopping 6.174 kilometres, which leaves it just 800 metres short of the iconic Spa track.
The drivers will be confronted with 50 of these gruelling laps, which feature 27 turns; eleven right-handers and sixteen left-handers. Turn 13 could be the corner to keep an eye on as it looks by far the most challenging.
The weather conditions are a bit kinder this year because the race is being staged at an earlier time in the season with temperatures ranging from lows of 19 to highs of 31 throughout the race weekend.
Last season’s race was won by Max Verstappen with Charles Leclerc taking second and his Ferrari teammate, Carlos Sainz, rounding out the podium.
Value Bet
Fernando Alonso – Podium – Yes (4/7)
I fancy the former Ferrari ace to grab another podium finish. The Aston Martins looked really good this weekend and with Ferrari and Mercedes struggling, Alonso may well roll back the years once again and get himself in on the champagne celebrations.
To Win Race Outright
Max Verstappen (27/100)
You cannot look any further than the reigning World Champion. He has the car, the form and the history at the track having won last year’s edition of the race.
