Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Tips
Fastest Qualifier/Race Winner Double – Max Verstappen
First Car To Retire – McLaren
Points Finish – Sergio Perez, Lance Stroll, Pierre Gasly & Esteban Ocon
It may not have been the most exciting race but the Bahrain Grand Prix got the 2023 Formula 1 season into gear with a number of intriguing storylines.
George Russell has already predicted that Red Bull will win every race after Max Verstappen cruised to victory with Sergio Perez clear from the rest in second – leave the tipping up to me, mate – while his own team, Mercedes, have gone back to the drawing back after one race as their no-pods design might be pretty naff after all.
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Charles Leclerc was once again hampered by reliability issues with his Ferrari and has already been forced into a 10-place grid penalty, but the whole weekend was really all about the Fernando Alonso hype living up to expectations as ‘La Mision’ began with a podium for new team Aston Martin.
The F1 circus rolls on to the Jeddah for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, and I’ve picked out some fancies for the second race of the season this weekend. Let’s get to the bets…
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Qualifying: Saturday 5pm
Race: Sunday 5pm
TV: Sky Sports Main Event/Sky Sports F1
Fastest Qualifier/Race Winner Double – Max Verstappen
After tipping Max Verstappen for the Fastest Qualifier/Race Winner Double in the Bahrain Grand Prix, I’m backing a repeat outcome for the second race of the season.
The two-time world champion has yet to land on pole at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, but Red Bull have the pace in qualifying around here as Sergio Perez bagged the first grid slot last year.
Despite starting fourth on that day, Verstappen still took the chequered flag and the fact his engineers were urging him to slow down in the opening race of this season two weeks ago suggests his race pace will be too hot for the rest of the field to handle. A stomach bug is unlikely to stop him either.
Quite simply, the Red Bull looks mighty and it already seems safe to say that Verstappen is going to add a third World Drivers’ Championship to his CV.
First Car To Retire – McLaren
The Bahrain Grand Prix was a nightmare for McLaren as Oscar Piastri was forced to retire with an electrical problem while a pressure leak meant Lando Norris had to stop six times before retiring with two laps to go.
McLaren’s 2023 challenger does not look particularly good and a retirement hit the team in last year’s race due to former driver Daniel Ricciardo being hit with a gearbox issue.
Points Finish – Sergio Perez, Lance Stroll, Pierre Gasly & Esteban Ocon
There is no doubt about it, Red Bull have the best car on the grid. Sergio Perez has scored points on his two previous starts at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and was unlucky to finish fourth in last year’s race. The Mexican is better odds than his team-mate to fill the first leg of our Points Finish acca.
Aston Martin have designed a cracking car – dubbed the Green Red Bull by F1 fans after poaching aerodynamics boffin Dan Fallows from their rivals – and look set to readily challenge for podiums. Lance Stroll overcame injuries from a bike crash to finish sixth in the Bahrain Grand Prix and has more appealing odds than his team-mate for a Points Finish. The Canadian’s record at Jeddah is hardly inspiring but he has finished the race on two previous starts and should comfortably finish in the top 10.
Pierre Gasly came from last on the grid to finish ninth at the Bahrain Grand Prix and the Frenchman boasts a decent record at this track, finishing sixth in 2021 and eighth in 2022. A better qualifying session on his second race for Alpine should set him up for a points-scoring weekend.
Poor old Esteban Ocon dropped a disasterclass in Bahrain after picking up penalties like they were going out of fashion, but it’s worth forgiving that drive. The Alpine driver was sixth in last year’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and fourth in 2021 so he has to be trusted on his good record at the track. Judging by Gasly’s performance in the season curtain-raiser, the Alpine has decent race pace.
*A Points Finish Acca with these four bets pays at approximately 3/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Tips
Fastest Qualifier/Race Winner Double – Max Verstappen
First Car To Retire – McLaren
Points Finish – Sergio Perez, Lance Stroll, Pierre Gasly & Esteban Ocon
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