On March 16, 2023, at 11:08 pm, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix started and ran until the next day. At Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Max Verstappen was a clear favorite. However, all eyes were on the surprising podium finisher, Fernando Alonso.
Despite driving a sleek new Aston Martin, the 41-year-old Spaniard acknowledged that the high-speed Jeddah Street Circuit, with its thin hair-clip of asphalt over a lagoon, offers an entirely different challenge for drivers and cars. The course was 12 kilometers north of Jeddah city.
After Verstappen won the first grand prix in Bahrain, where Sergio Perez scored a strong second place, Verstappen is viewed by many as the one to beat. Nonetheless, teams such as Aston Martin, Mercedes, and Ferrari will be pursuing Verstappen hard.
Perez, currently Verstappen’s teammate, finished in fourth place in last year’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and will be eager to prove he’s much more than just a supporting cast.
New management leads Ferrari, enthused by new hope, and they’ll want to make a statement at the track where last year they finished second and third. Charles Leclerc will take a ten-place grid penalty because he used a new electronic control unit. His team will start at a disadvantage.
Mercedes also has something to prove after a desultory display at the Bahrain Grand Prix. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton and George Russell struggled, and they’ll most likely have a similar experience in Saudi Arabia, requiring a major improvement.
Verstappen is wary of rival teams’ strong threat to his title defense. Nonetheless, he thinks his Red Bull package has the correct combination of high-speed handling characteristics and pure power to succeed again.
The motorsport event in Jeddah got many modifications after drivers complained about poor visibility on some correct corners. Verstappen praised these changes, saying that it has undoubtedly improved the drivers’ safety.
Even though Verstappen is widely expected to win the grand prix, Fernando Alonso drew widespread popular support with his dashing and surprising podium finish in the Bahrain Grand Prix, giving him the support of many fans across the world.