Red Bull dominated the Formula 1 2024 season opener in Bahrain, leaving fans wondering if they will continue their success in Saudi Arabia. The performance of Red Bull’s main rivals will determine the outcome. Since the race in Saudi Arabia is only a week after Bahrain, it is unlikely that there will be significant developments. So, what do Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren, and Aston Martin need to improve with their current cars in Jeddah?
In Bahrain, Ferrari showed promise as Red Bull’s closest competitor, meeting most people’s expectations based on pre-season testing. However, their performance fell short as Carlos Sainz, their third-place finisher, trailed over 25 seconds behind Max Verstappen, who cruised to victory. Ferrari’s one-lap speed is a threat to Red Bull, as shown by Charles Leclerc’s impressive qualifying performance. But, similar to late 2023, Ferrari struggled to maintain their pace in the actual races. The team’s improvement in Bahrain was hindered by brake issues for Leclerc and traffic for Sainz, preventing a true test of their race pace improvement. While Ferrari has made progress, the extent of their improvement remains uncertain.
As for Mercedes, their performance in the Bahrain Grand Prix left many questions unanswered. The team and drivers were optimistic about their practice pace, suggesting that the car had overcome the handling issues of its predecessors. This raised expectations that Mercedes would be a strong contender this season, challenging Ferrari and Red Bull. However, Lewis Hamilton’s mistake in qualifying and the team’s cooling choice proved costly. The car suffered from overheating warnings early in the race, compromising their performance. Mercedes can no longer afford operational mistakes and must demonstrate their pace in Saudi Arabia.
McLaren had high hopes for their 2024 car, expecting significant progress compared to the previous season. However, their performance in Bahrain was underwhelming. They were unable to challenge Mercedes and Ferrari, let alone pose a threat to Red Bull. The car’s core weaknesses, particularly in mid-corner rotation, still need improvement. While McLaren showed improvement in qualifying compared to the previous year, their race pace was lacking. Lando Norris’s qualifying performance was promising, but the car needs upgrades to address its low-speed handling weaknesses. Only then can we determine if McLaren’s pre-season talk was justified.
Aston Martin, last year’s second-best team in the season opener, did not show the same level of competitiveness in 2024. Despite Fernando Alonso’s decent qualifying time, the team finished in the top 10, falling behind McLaren and Hamilton. Alonso’s expectations aligned with the team’s pre-race simulations, placing them comfortably behind the top four teams. Aston Martin believes their new car provides a better platform for development compared to the previous year. Sacrifices were made in terms of certain car characteristics that were effective in low-speed situations. While their slow start is discouraging, Aston Martin expects better performance as they continue to develop the car. However, they will need rapid improvements to compete with the top teams.
Overall, it remains to be seen if Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren, and Aston Martin can challenge Red Bull in Saudi Arabia. Each team has areas that need improvement, and their performance in the upcoming race will reveal their progress.