PALMER: Why I expect Red Bull’s rivals to put up a stronger fight this weekend in Jeddah

BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN - MARCH 02: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands driving the (1) Oracle Red Bull

Max Verstappen cruised to victory in the season opener in Bahrain – but his rivals will harbour hopes of a stronger challenge in this weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Here's why...

Qualifying was expected to be close, so it was a surprise to see Max with a two tenths margin at the front of the grid – but that advantage was misleading. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was actually the fastest driver in Friday night’s qualifying session, but unlike Verstappen he failed to put it together when it really mattered at the end of Q3, in a rare qualifying miss from the Monegasque driver.

Unlock exclusive F1 content and more with F1 Unlocked. Totally free.

Membership gets you closer with:

Curated insider content
Live like an F1 insider with exclusive access and VIP experiences
Member benefits, rewards and offers

Next Up

Tremayne'Why I’ll always have a soft spot for Sauber'
ExclusiveHow Bearman went from super-sub to star rookie in 2025
End Of Year Reports 2025Aston Martin’s best and worst moments from 2025
WATCH: F1 Animated returns for a look back at 2025
$Robert Kubica (POL) BMW Sauber F1 celebrates his third position.\r\nFormula One World Championship,$ Sauber’s best moments and most memorable liveries in F1
End Of Year Reports 2025Racing Bulls’ best and worst moments from 2025

PALMER: Why I expect Red Bull’s rivals to put up a stronger fight this weekend in Jeddah

Related Articles