Idk, call me an optimist but I think the gaps will be a lot closer than last week. I doubt Max will be able to put it on pole position and if more teams are competitive (Mercedes, Ferrari and maybe even McLaren) I think it might actually be a challenge for them. If enough teams are competitive enough it will give many drivers the option to try something different with strategy which might make it difficult for Max to win.
venkyhere wrote: ↑05 Mar 2024, 13:39Bingo.Farnborough wrote: ↑05 Mar 2024, 11:47I've really enjoyed the races here so far.
It's a really balls~out commitment place, without confidence in tire grip and chassis balance will eat pace fast. There's precious little room to correct for any under/ over steer in coping with tire deg too.
Thought CL was mesmerising in 2022 for first half of circuit, MV equally for second half of track. FA, LH also great to watch here too. It shows a lot of a driver's talent in confined spaces. SP pretty handy round here as well.
Hope they get some of the basics right in Ferrari with their brakes and Mercedes with cooling ballance.
I'll enjoy watching the drivers here what ever the outcome, it does show some of their talent at It's best.
Jeddah is a track which always draws flak from 'traditionalists' who want only monza/spa/monaco/silverstone like 'heritage classic' type tracks. They speak with disdain, about new-age tracks like the ones in Middle East, Singapore etc (personally, I think Singapore is one of the best 'skill testing' tracks in the F1 calender - both for the engineers as well as drivers; I also think Monaco is the most overhyped track of all time - narrow yes, but speeds are much slower. Baku is narrower yet faster).
The 'character' of Jeddah is that unlike other street ckts (lets for a moment assume that it isn't a dedicated track) that are originally meant for road-usage, where there are bumps, sharp 90 degree corners & slow turns, this thing is butter smooth warp speed. It's like lifting a 'field ckt' like Suzuka/Silverstone/Spa/Monza and placing it inside walls and cages. Gives me the vibes of a MMA fight, this Jeddah ckt. Proper high speed, zero run off. Means the onus is on the driver, rather than the engineers. Natural talent counts of course, but what counts more is 'balls of steel' and 'trusting the car'.
When this circuit was first announced, like for every new circuit, people tried to shred it off saying various things like it's Saudi and then the circuit is a death trap and stuff like that. When cars hit the circuit, drivers instantly like the circuit as it's such a challenge to drive. Max's final push lap in 2021 Q3 stands as my favorite. It was almost over the edge and breath taking. Really good track for F1.venkyhere wrote: ↑05 Mar 2024, 13:41venkyhere wrote: ↑05 Mar 2024, 13:39Bingo.Farnborough wrote: ↑05 Mar 2024, 11:47I've really enjoyed the races here so far.
It's a really balls~out commitment place, without confidence in tire grip and chassis balance will eat pace fast. There's precious little room to correct for any under/ over steer in coping with tire deg too.
Thought CL was mesmerising in 2022 for first half of circuit, MV equally for second half of track. FA, LH also great to watch here too. It shows a lot of a driver's talent in confined spaces. SP pretty handy round here as well.
Hope they get some of the basics right in Ferrari with their brakes and Mercedes with cooling ballance.
I'll enjoy watching the drivers here what ever the outcome, it does show some of their talent at It's best.
Jeddah is a track which always draws flak from 'traditionalists' who want only monza/spa/monaco/silverstone like 'heritage classic' type tracks. They speak with disdain, about new-age tracks like the ones in Middle East, Singapore etc (personally, I think Singapore is one of the best 'skill testing' tracks in the F1 calender - both for the engineers as well as drivers; I also think Monaco is the most overhyped track of all time - narrow yes, but speeds are much slower. Baku is narrower yet faster).
The 'character' of Jeddah is that unlike other street ckts (lets for a moment assume that it isn't a dedicated track) that are originally meant for road-usage, where there are bumps, sharp 90 degree corners & slow turns, this thing is butter smooth warp speed. It's like lifting a 'field ckt' like Suzuka/Silverstone/Spa/Monza and placing it inside walls and cages. Gives me the vibes of a MMA fight, this Jeddah ckt. Proper high speed, zero run off. Means the onus is on the driver, rather than the engineers. Natural talent counts of course, but what counts more is 'balls of steel' and 'trusting the car'.
We will see the first 1st DNF and SC of the season at Jeddah that's for sure. Just hope no one get hurt because this track is like F1 equivalent of TT Isle of Man racedjones wrote: ↑05 Mar 2024, 15:16All we really have to discuss is:
- Who will finish position 3 downwards
- To the nearest 10 seconds how far will Max finish ahead of Perez
Due to the pure comedy in how long the tyres could last on the Redbull, I think they can afford to go for more of a qualifying focus, so P1 should be in the bag from now on.
I'm a big fan of Jeddah as well. It brings an edge that other tracks just can't replicate and it flows very well despite being entirely walled. A huge challenge for the drivers.venkyhere wrote: ↑05 Mar 2024, 13:39
Bingo.
Jeddah is a track which always draws flak from 'traditionalists' who want only monza/spa/monaco/silverstone like 'heritage classic' type tracks. They speak with disdain, about new-age tracks like the ones in Middle East, Singapore etc (personally, I think Singapore is one of the best 'skill testing' tracks in the F1 calender - both for the engineers as well as drivers; I also think Monaco is the most overhyped tracks of all time - narrow yes, but speeds are much slower. Baku is narrower yet faster).
The 'character' of Jeddah is that unlike other street ckts (lets for a moment assume that it isn't a dedicated track) that are originally meant for road-usage, where there are bumps, sharp 90 degree corners & slow turns, this thing is butter smooth warp speed. It's like lifting a 'field ckt' like Suzuka/Silverstone/Spa/Monza and placing it inside walls and cages. Gives me the vibes of a MMA fight, this Jeddah ckt. Proper high speed, zero run off. Means the onus is on the driver, rather than the engineers. Natural talent counts of course, but what counts more is 'balls of steel' and 'trusting the car'.
Wish they would hold it in the daylight though, the location is stunning, right next to the sea, which gets totally lost in the dark.JPower wrote: ↑05 Mar 2024, 15:59I'm a big fan of Jeddah as well. It brings an edge that other tracks just can't replicate and it flows very well despite being entirely walled. A huge challenge for the drivers.venkyhere wrote: ↑05 Mar 2024, 13:39
Bingo.
Jeddah is a track which always draws flak from 'traditionalists' who want only monza/spa/monaco/silverstone like 'heritage classic' type tracks. They speak with disdain, about new-age tracks like the ones in Middle East, Singapore etc (personally, I think Singapore is one of the best 'skill testing' tracks in the F1 calender - both for the engineers as well as drivers; I also think Monaco is the most overhyped tracks of all time - narrow yes, but speeds are much slower. Baku is narrower yet faster).
The 'character' of Jeddah is that unlike other street ckts (lets for a moment assume that it isn't a dedicated track) that are originally meant for road-usage, where there are bumps, sharp 90 degree corners & slow turns, this thing is butter smooth warp speed. It's like lifting a 'field ckt' like Suzuka/Silverstone/Spa/Monza and placing it inside walls and cages. Gives me the vibes of a MMA fight, this Jeddah ckt. Proper high speed, zero run off. Means the onus is on the driver, rather than the engineers. Natural talent counts of course, but what counts more is 'balls of steel' and 'trusting the car'.
I think it's due to prayer time and possibly heat during the dayWaz wrote: ↑05 Mar 2024, 17:45Wish they would hold it in the daylight though, the location is stunning, right next to the sea, which gets totally lost in the dark.JPower wrote: ↑05 Mar 2024, 15:59I'm a big fan of Jeddah as well. It brings an edge that other tracks just can't replicate and it flows very well despite being entirely walled. A huge challenge for the drivers.venkyhere wrote: ↑05 Mar 2024, 13:39
Bingo.
Jeddah is a track which always draws flak from 'traditionalists' who want only monza/spa/monaco/silverstone like 'heritage classic' type tracks. They speak with disdain, about new-age tracks like the ones in Middle East, Singapore etc (personally, I think Singapore is one of the best 'skill testing' tracks in the F1 calender - both for the engineers as well as drivers; I also think Monaco is the most overhyped tracks of all time - narrow yes, but speeds are much slower. Baku is narrower yet faster).
The 'character' of Jeddah is that unlike other street ckts (lets for a moment assume that it isn't a dedicated track) that are originally meant for road-usage, where there are bumps, sharp 90 degree corners & slow turns, this thing is butter smooth warp speed. It's like lifting a 'field ckt' like Suzuka/Silverstone/Spa/Monza and placing it inside walls and cages. Gives me the vibes of a MMA fight, this Jeddah ckt. Proper high speed, zero run off. Means the onus is on the driver, rather than the engineers. Natural talent counts of course, but what counts more is 'balls of steel' and 'trusting the car'.