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Verstappen expects 'everyone to be closer' in Jeddah

Max Verstappen believes the characteristics of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit will result in a much tighter fight between Red Bull and its main rivals next week in Saudi Arabia.

There was no challenging Red Bull's drivers last weekend in Bahrain, with Verstappen enjoying a lights-to-flag win and Sergio Perez finishing runner-up to the reigning world champion, while Ferrari faltered, with Charles Leclerc suffering an engine issue and Carlos Sainz beaten to the final spot on the podium by Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso.

Red Bull's RB19 was in a league of its own thanks to its superior performance coupled with low tyre degradation that allowed the Milton Keynes-based outfit to rely on a soft-soft-hard tyre strategy that paid a handsome dividend at the end of the day.

©RedBull

But despite the team's imperial display, team boss Christian Horner insisted Red Bull wasn't taking its early dominance for granted, the Briton expecting to get a clearer picture of F1's hierarchy after at least three races.

Verstappen echoed Horner's comments, the Dutchman projecting a tighter battle among the front-runners, which now includes Aston Martin, in next week's round of racing in Saudi Arabia.

Read also: F1i's Driver Ratings for the 2023 Bahrain GP

"Saudi is quite a different track to this one. You have a lot more like straights, fast corners, and a lot less degradation," said the Dutchman.

"And I think here [in Bahrain] we were particularly good on the deg. So, I do expect in terms of race pace, that everyone is closer in Jeddah."

On a track that is less harsh on tyres and rewards maximum velocity on the straights, Verstappen expects Ferrari to bite back in Jeddah.

"Jeddah is going to be quite different again," he added. "Our car seems quite strong in high speed, but I think Ferrari is quite quick on the straight, which in Jeddah, of course, is very nice to have.

"Time will tell. It's really hard to know. We've only really driven these cars here in Bahrain, so we just have to wait and see.

"We'll, of course, try and get there in the best shape possible and then we'll find out throughout practice where we are exactly."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.