FORMULA ONE returns TODAY with the Saudi Grand Prix – but 2022 winner Max Verstappen has his work cut out.
The F1 icon will start down in 15th on the grid due to a faulty car in the qualifier.
While British superstar Lewis Hamilton is hoping to secure his first triumph of the season from 7th spot.
- Start time: 5pm GMT
- Live stream: NOW TV
- TV channel: Sky Sports F1
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST ONLINE CASINOS FOR 2023
Follow ALL the action with our live blog below…
- Kieran Davies
Mexican waves from pole position
Sergio Perez will start the Saudi Grand Prix from pol position today.
His lap of 1:28:265 was enough to secure top spot in qualifying.
It is the second pole position of the driver’s career and he saved qualifying for Red Bull after Max Verstappen’s issues with his car, edging out Charles Leclerc in the process.
- Kieran Davies
Jeddah lights up for F1 race
The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix looks some sight from the air.
As the Jeddah track is illuminated for the race, it really makes for a spectacle for F1 fans.
Let's hope the race is just as much of a 'must see'.
Credit: @F1 - Kieran Davies
Mercedes struggling to match driver’s needs
Lewis Hamilton has spoken out about his constant issues with his Mercedes car:
I just don't feel connected to this car. No matter what I do, no matter what I change, I can't get confidence in it. I'm at a bit of a loss. In the high-speed, the car is a little unstable on my set-up, it is a little different [to Russell's]. There is one thing I did differently. Maybe it will be OK for [the race] tomorrow but less so for today.
Lewis HamiltonMercedes
- Kieran Davies
Wolff worried about Hamilton future
Toto Wolff has said that he expects Lewis Hamilton to leave Mercedes in the next couple of years if the constructor cannot provide a car for him to compete.
The British driver starts the Grand Prix 7th on the grid and is not fancied by many to push to win the second race of the season.
However his Mercedes teammate George Russell will start 3rd on the grid.
- Kieran Davies
Verstappen handed barrier to overcome
As a result of limping out of qualifying in Q2, the world champion finds himself 15th on the grid for the start of the Saudi Grand Prix.
Hoping that Red Bull will have addressed all issues with the car from qualifying, it will take some drive from the Dutchman to win this race.
He has performed such miracles before but it will be a huge ask given the drivers in front of him on the grid today.
- Kieran Davies
Welcome to the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
The Bahrain Grand Prix had a number of outcomes that will send ripples across the F1 season.
Firstly, the performance of the Aston Martin car with Fernando Alonso at the helm surprised many as he took the constructor to their second ever podium finish.
Some superb driving by the veteran Spaniard resulted in him finishing third in the race.
All of this after his own teammate shunted his car on the first corner of the race, with many in wonder how his back tyre did not puncture.
Alonso was reeling after the collision, demanding to know who was responsible but his pit didn’t want to tell him during the race it was in fact Lance Stroll who was behind the wheel of the culpable car.
Max Verstappen will not have had the audacity to even dream of such an easy opening race to the season as he strolled into a comfortable first-place finish.
After being forced to retire with a second electronics control unit (ECU) problem, Charles Leclerc went into qualifying knowing that he would a grid penalty in the second race of the season.
The Monegasque driver finished second in qualifying but due to the ten place grid penalty, he will start the race in twelfth place.
After finishing Q1 in pole position, Max Verstappen encountered a ‘big moment’ when he encountered acceleration issues and had to limp back to the pits in his car.
Later reports suggest the drive shaft had gone on the car.
Source: Read Full Article
