726 replies to this topic

[TomNokoe]

**The race is on Saturday again, qualifying on Friday, practice on Thursday**

 

Like a game of Catchphrase, the first puzzle piece of this F1 season has been revealed. Some of you may be tempted to solve the puzzle already and shout "season over", but not so fast! There's still 23 pieces to go.

 

One week on from Bahrain, we're in Saudi Arabia for the fourth running at the super high-speed Jeddah street track. A circuit diametrically opposed to opening weekend in many ways - layout, tarmac, tyres - gives ample opportunity for the chasing pack to fight back against Verstappen and co.

 

Who will Charm the Snake for Round 2 of the 2024 Formula One World Championship?

 

 

 

Suspicions for Saudi

 

After a commanding 1-2 in Bahrain, it's clear that Red Bull have picked up where they left off from 2023. Internal machinations aside, they start the weekend as favourites, but with questions over their high-speed balance versus rivals, and outright pace advantage when tyre degradation is less of a factor. Verstappen's record at this track of 2-1-2 suggests a 1 this weekend to continue the pattern, and he'll want to avenge his defeat to Perez last year, when unreliability befell him in qualifying.

 

Not to labour the point, but there really are many interesting storylines behind Red Bull this weekend. What can Ferrari and Leclerc do without braking woes, Mercedes without cooling problems, and McLaren at a track perfect for their fast corner aero philosophy? Keep an eye out for Hamilton, as this is one of his bogey tracks, but conversely for Piastri, who many forget qualified P9 last year.

 

Aston Martin seem to have relegated themselves from the top five to the bottom six after an underwhelming Bahrain. Alonso's 2023 front row and race-leading cameo will feel like a distant memory, if it didn't already. Snapping at their heels is RB (with their own intra-team tensions brewing), a surprise Sauber, rejuvenated Haas and slightly wobbly Williams. My tip for the weekend is Haas - good straight-line speed and one-lap pace, with tyre issues seemingly resolved. The less said about Alpine, the better. Un malheur n'arrive jamais seu.

 

Tyres and Weather

 

 

The first appearance this season for the C4. One-stop expected. Front pressures up 1.5psi vs 2023, rears the same.

 

Thu - 26C/79F, dry, windy

Fri - 25C/77F, dry, windy

Sat - 26C/79F, dry, windy

 

A much warmer, but equally blustery weekend in store. Verstappen remarked post-Bahrain that the wind conditions Thu/Fri worked against Red Bull, so worth keeping an eye on again.

 

Schedule

            GMT     CET
FP1 (Thu)   1330    1430
FP2 (Thu)   1700    1800
FP3 (Fri)   1330    1430
Q   (Fri)   1700    1800
R   (Sat)   1700    1800

Convert to my time zone

 

Another full complement of support, albeit tweaked slightly. F2, F1 Academy, and Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East supporting. Full schedule.

 

--

 

Thoughts, predictions, motorsport-related album covers and everything else welcome below

 

Edited by TomNokoe, 05 March 2024 - 21:16.

[krapmeister]

Thanks to the organisers for shifting the race to a Saturday night to avoid a clash with Indycars opening race at St Pete

[PayasYouRace]

Thanks to the organisers for shifting the race to a Saturday night to avoid a clash with Indycars opening race at St Pete

 

Forget the prophet Mohammed, the prophet Roger is the one we should be thanking.

[aportinga]

Should be a great weekend for sure!

 

Hope I manage to get something done 

[monolulu]

It will be nice to get back to on track action rather than off!

[jonpollak]

Here for the F2 and Academy races.
Jp

[Chick0]

It's interesting that the MotoGp boys are racing in Qatar this weekend, but have not had their main race shifted to Saturday. 

[sportyskells]

Because that race is shorter than f1. I have a strange feeling we get the old safety car this weekend  (ps I glad it’s a Saturday so I can focus on football Sunday)

Edited by sportyskells, 05 March 2024 - 21:51.

[DeKnyff]

I know many will disagree with me, but I love that Saudi track. Very fast and unforgiving.

[Frankbullitt]

I know many will disagree with me, but I love that Saudi track. Very fast and unforgiving.

 

Am actually with you on this, we seem to get kinda decent races, the high speed and close walls usually throws a spanner in the works.

[Jones Foyer]

It's interesting that the MotoGp boys are racing in Qatar this weekend, but have not had their main race shifted to Saturday. 

 

F1 ALWAYS tries to make the televised time convenient for the Brits. Being in Los Angeles or West Coast US, every race is a test of our fortitude.

[Chick0]

Am actually with you on this, we seem to get kinda decent races, the high speed and close walls usually throws a spanner in the works.

 

 

i like it as well.  It's a challenge. 

[Frood]

Thoughts, predictions, motorsport-related album covers and everything else welcome below

I can provide that one, if I can find that Detroit IndyCar thread I did a few years ago...

[dissident]

I know many will disagree with me, but I love that Saudi track. Very fast and unforgiving.

 

I like it too, the shots from qualifying especially are usually superb.

[Clatter]

Because that race is shorter than f1. I have a strange feeling we get the old safety car this weekend (ps I glad it’s a Saturday so I can focus on football Sunday)

Why does the length of the race matter?

[PayasYouRace]

Why does the length of the race matter?

Maybe they can pack up and be gone before Ramadan starts?

[Goron3]

I know many will disagree with me, but I love that Saudi track. Very fast and unforgiving.

Agreed - it's probably one of the my favourites on the calendar, even despite it usually being a pretty easy one stopper. Mistakes are punished more than they are at tracks like Bahrain (even a venture into a tarmac run off can cost a lot of time, compared to even Canada for example) and the high % full throttle means drivers can't back off to save tyres without being vulerable to the overtake.

[ConsiderAndGo]

Think I’m in the minority of those who really like this circuit.

Fast, crazy and no room for error whatsoever.

Edited by ConsiderAndGo, 06 March 2024 - 11:24.

[Clatter]

Maybe they can pack up and be gone before Ramadan starts?

Probably right. I thought it started on Sunday, but having had a look, it appears the first day is Monday.

[Risil]

Probably right. I thought it started on Sunday, but having had a look, it appears the first day is Monday.

Nightfall on Sunday I think?

[NateF]

Nightfall on Sunday I think?

Yeah from friends the first Sunday is considered the first night, so will mean the additional prayer etc

[7MGTEsup]

F1 ALWAYS tries to make the televised time convenient for the Brits. Being in Los Angeles or West Coast US, every race is a test of our fortitude.

 

I think you mean Europe as we're all on pretty much the same time line here and the middle east is only 3 hours in front of us.

Edited by 7MGTEsup, 06 March 2024 - 12:02.

[Clatter]

Nightfall on Sunday I think?

I couldn't find a time of day, just said Sunday, but local mosque has their prayer timetable starting monday. If it were nightfall then I would have thought the motogp would be affected.

[Risil]

I couldn't find a time of day, just said Sunday, but local mosque has their prayer timetable starting monday. If it were nightfall then I would have thought the motogp would be affected.

A quick look on Wikipedia suggests Qatar is one of the more liberal Middle Eastern countries on Ramadan observance. That might be a factor.

[TomNokoe]

F1 ALWAYS tries to make the televised time convenient for the Brits. Being in Los Angeles or West Coast US, every race is a test of our fortitude.

In a welcome departure from this ethos, Australia in a fortnight is 4am GMT, 2 hours earlier than last year!

[NateF]

A quick look on Wikipedia suggests Qatar is one of the more liberal Middle Eastern countries on Ramadan observance. That might be a factor.

Qatar picks and chooses its religious observance, just don’t be gay there!

[William Hunt]

I know many will disagree with me, but I love that Saudi track. Very fast and unforgiving.

Me too, it's very spectacular but I hope we'll never see drivers hurt because I think there is potential for serious accidents on the layout of this track, in particular because of some flat out blind corner sections. You really need guts and confidence in your car here, and hope that no one will crash in a blind spot ahead of you.

[KWSN - DSM]

I know many will disagree with me, but I love that Saudi track. Very fast and unforgiving.

 

Only problem is that it is in a country who could not care less about the sport of autoracing.

[KWSN - DSM]

No rain expected at all?

[JimmyClark]

I know many will disagree with me, but I love that Saudi track. Very fast and unforgiving.

 

I totally agree. Onboards are spectacular. 

 

Needs a bit of gravel, though. But that's my broken record opinion on most circuits. 

[Beri]

I know many will disagree with me, but I love that Saudi track. Very fast and unforgiving.

 

Nope. As for a track its daunting and is a type of track that does seperate the weak from the strong.

 

Its just sad that it is not situated in a hilly forest.

[milestone 11]

Presser pulled because of uncomfortable FIA question.

[ANF]

They didn't mention any of the wars, did they?

[lewislorenzo]

Hopefully no missiles…

From Jos😂

[AlexS]

For me it is dangerous circuit.

[F1 Mike]

I have no idea why they bother inviting Lance Stroll to press conferences, his answers are usually a waste of breath. He's got a talent for driving cars (he had a good race last time out I thought) but my god he seems brain-dead with a microphone in front of him

[LolaB0860]

They didn't mention any of the wars, did they?

 

There was no war! That is a fairy tale made up by New York media

[FLB]

There was no war! That is a fairy tale made up by New York media

 

[Frood]

I have no idea why they bother inviting Lance Stroll to press conferences, his answers are usually a waste of breath. He's got a talent for driving cars (he had a good race last time out I thought) but my god he seems brain-dead with a microphone in front of him

I've never got that impression of him. Slightly awkward and introverted, but not stupid.

[Beri]

I've never got that impression of him. Slightly awkward and introverted, but not stupid.

 

But get the Bingo chart on marketing outings said by a driver, and he ticks them all in any interview. It wouldnt surprise me if he is the first who will say the team name full out with sponsors and all..

"I'd like to thank the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team for doing a great job. I qualified in 12th, but considering the issues at hand that is a great result. Also for Valvoline and Congizant it will be a boost to see our car prevail after such a difficult first day of practise. Has someone seen my Girard Perregaux? I need to sit on my Chesterfield sofa with my Boss slippers."

[JimmyClark]

Reminder its FP today - only just remembered myself. 

 

It feels so quick. 

[DW46]

Reminder its FP today - only just remembered myself.

It feels so quick.

Ta Jimmy, literally missed that again 😂

[Thursday]

Turned on the tv expecting Sky to be having some sort of build up or recap of events, only to see Neomi and Damon walking around Baku.

Seems like a strange broadcasting decision.

 

 

My bad. I thought practice was at 11. It starts at 15:30 

Edited by Thursday, 07 March 2024 - 10:59.

[ANF]

But get the Bingo chart on marketing outings said by a driver, and he ticks them all in any interview. It wouldnt surprise me if he is the first who will say the team name full out with sponsors and all..
"I'd like to thank the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team for doing a great job. I qualified in 12th, but considering the issues at hand that is a great result. Also for Valvoline and Congizant it will be a boost to see our car prevail after such a difficult first day of practise. Has someone seen my Girard Perregaux? I need to sit on my Chesterfield sofa with my Boss slippers."

I think that's Alonso's job? Stroll can't be bothered with that.

[Ellios]

Nice to see racing cars again ! 

 

Prior commitments mean seeing the race live on Saturday will not be possible but will see everything else.

 

Well, it's Red Bull innit everything else is a minor sideshow.

 

Let's go racing ! 

[jonpollak]

WF1 Academy is now live…

Jp

[JoeShmoe]

See this clashes with the 6 nations in the UK, after last week ( and expect Max to win by 30 seconds again) think i might be missing this one

[SenorSjon]

I think you mean Europe as we're all on pretty much the same time line here and the middle east is only 3 hours in front of us.

 

No, we want our 14.00 post-lunch timeslot back. The 15.00 just sucks, especially with red flags that are now very common.

[kosmos]

Looks like Sainz is still ill, according to Lobato quite sick yesterday and tonight (said on TV, not the tweet below).

 

https://twitter.com/...712869964816536

[jonklug]

Will they have a little box on the screen where they could update us in real time on new Horner developments? Feels like every 5 minutes there's something new.