Verstappen emerged as the fastest driver in the first practice session on Thursday, but in the second session, he settled for third place as Fernando Alonso claimed the top spot. However, it was evident that the RB20 car performed exceptionally well on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. Verstappen pointed out that the Aston Martins seemed to be running higher engine modes, as indicated by Alonso’s speed trap figures. This was particularly notable as it was the home race of their title sponsor, Aramco.
Reflecting on his experience on the Jeddah circuit, Verstappen expressed his satisfaction with the practice sessions. He mentioned that the pace was impressive on both long and short runs, and the track was well-prepared for a street circuit. Verstappen acknowledged that there were areas for improvement in terms of one-lap performance, as some other teams appeared to have more power. He expressed confidence in analyzing the data to enhance their overall performance and maximize their potential. Looking ahead to qualifying, Verstappen felt optimistic and anticipated a tight competition.
Meanwhile, Sergio Perez, Verstappen’s teammate, also had a solid performance. He finished third in the first practice session and fifth in the second, closely matching Verstappen’s pace. This was not surprising considering Perez’s previous success at the same venue in 2023, where he secured a victory. Perez expressed satisfaction with the car’s performance and believed they were in a good position. He mentioned the need for some fine-tuning but was confident in their understanding of what was required for the upcoming sessions. Perez emphasized the importance of putting everything together in qualifying and highlighted the challenging nature of Sector One. He looked forward to Friday and aimed for clean laps to achieve a favorable outcome.
Red Bull aims to replicate their dominant performance from the previous race in Bahrain and secure a one-two finish in Saudi Arabia this week.