The second box to be checked, the most crucial one in terms of points, is already marked as Verstappen appears unstoppable, and his third victory of the season in the Grand Prix is imminent. It would be unwise to consider anyone else winning today, unless there are unforeseen circumstances.
Verstappen begins the race from the first position for the 35th time in his career, and although he expressed surprise at this achievement, no one doubted his dominance. Winning today is a certainty.
The second position should belong to his teammate Sergio Perez, who is much more comfortable in the impressive Red Bull RB20, as shown by his third place in the qualifying session. However, a penalty for impeding has set the Mexican driver back three places. Nevertheless, given the superiority of the RBR he drives, it is expected to be another one-two finish for the World Champions. Anything less would be unexpected.
Sharing the front row is Carlos Sainz, a former teammate of Verstappen at Toro Rosso and currently a driver for Ferrari. Sainz has put up an impressive performance this weekend, especially considering that he underwent surgery just two weeks ago. His absence in Jeddah seems to have motivated him greatly.
Do not underestimate Sainz’s potential to win today, as he did in Singapore. Ferrari has shown confidence leading up to this weekend, and it seems they have a strong car. Let’s see what the Ferrari drivers can achieve starting from the second and fourth positions on the grid, which are on the less grippy and dustier side.
On the side with better traction, directly behind the first position on the grid, the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will line up closely in the third and fifth positions, eager to challenge the leaders. The race will determine if they have the pace to compete for a podium finish. This means they will need to keep Perez, who has been demoted to the sixth position, at bay and also contend with both Ferrari drivers. It will be interesting to see how it unfolds.
Equally intriguing will be the next three rows, with George Russell hoping that the performance of the Mercedes will be better in the race than in qualifying. Unfortunately, they have no idea what kind of car they will have on race day, and if the first two races of the year are any indication, it could be a challenging day for the Mercedes team.
One such as Lewis Hamilton had today. Perplexed, confused or whatever by the W15 that is looking to be the worst of a once distinguished lineage of W-designated Formula 1 Mercedes cars to roll out of their factory. Therefore, the individual with a104 Formula 1 pole position starts on their own and P11, aware that earning a point today will be much more challenging than some of the 103 victories they have experienced in the top tier of racing.
Let’s be honest, Lewis made the right decision to abandon this endeavor and join Ferrari, and I’m willing to bet that December cannot arrive soon enough for him.
Aston Martin occupies Row 5, with Lance Stroll surprisingly outperforming his experienced teammate Fernando Alonso, indicating that the AMR24 is not a poor car to drive. This is because the Canadian tends to excel in efficient cars, unlike his teammate who thrives in vehicles that require significant effort.
Expect Alonso, and even Stroll for that matter, to be competitive from the beginning. Their fate will depend on whether the Aston Martin has the necessary race pace for the Spaniard to secure a spot on the podium, as he did here last year.
Add the fiery and determined Yuki Tsunoda in the VCARB to the mix, and you have an explosive top ten. When the race begins and they charge towards the distant Turn 1, it is highly likely that there will be incidents. Additionally, the probability of a safety car intervention that could completely alter the outcome of the race is quite high. This has occurred on multiple occasions in previous races.