Mail Sport’s Aadam Patel gives his winners and losers from the Saudi GP
We are only two races into the 2024 Formula One season, yet it is already looking like it will be tough for anyone to stop Max Verstappen winning a fourth straight title.
The Red Bull driver dominated the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, with Sergio Perez like in Bahrain, following his team-mate home in second.
Perhaps the true story of the race though was the performance of Oliver Bearman, making his debut for Ferrari at the age of 18 after being thrown in as a last-minute replacement for Carlos Sainz.
Bearman might not race again this season but he stamped his mark with a seventh placed finish, ahead of fellow Brits Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton.
Max Verstappen won the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix from Sergio Perez and Charles Leclerc
WINNERS
Oliver Bearman – 9
The only way is up for Oliver Bearman. Fearless and showed a maturity beyond his years with a memorable debut F1 drive from the 18-year-old.
Two early overtakes showed how he already looks made for this level, and at one stage, said: ‘Mate he’s so slow,’ referring to Niko Hulkenberg.
He overtook the Haas driver shortly after and from starting 11th, he finished in seventh to bring home six points. Bearman said before the race that his goal was to simply finish the race.
He did more than that and in a style that showed exactly why Ferrari thinks he is the next big thing. ‘You are doing a mega job out there,’ a Ferrari engineer said on the team radio midway through the race. A mega job, indeed.
Max Verstappen – 8
Just like clockwork, Max Verstappen was a class apart yet again with his 100th Formula One podium.
The Red Bull driver lost the lead briefly when the safety car was deployed as he went into the pits but restored first place from Lando Norris in the 13th lap and never looked back.
He’s now won the last nine races and 19 out of the last 20, and only a fool would bet against him winning in Australia in a fortnight. It’s also the first time that the Dutchman has won the first two races of a season.
Lewis Hamilton – 7
Initially a defensive masterclass from the seven-time world champion, who expertly held off McLaren’s Oscar Piastri for much of the race.
Hamilton was on team radio throughout searching for answers as to why the Mercedes is so uncompetitive with one particular exchange summing it all up. ‘They’re killing us in the high speed,’ said Hamilton.
‘Yes, copy Lewis. GPS agrees,’ responded the engineer. Finished in 9th but it’s hard to think how he could have done much better.
LOSERS
Kevin Magnussen – 5
This was not a race for the scrapbook for Kevin Magnussen, who was picking up penalties rather than points. The Haas driver first picked up a 10-second penalty for causing a collision with Alex Albon and then another 10-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage in a battle with Yuki Tsuonoda.
But fair play to Magnussen for a defiant defensive effort that opened up a gap big enough for his teammate Nico Hulkenberg to pit and ultimately finish with a point. A point that was largely thanks to Magnussen.
Lance Stroll – 3
An absolute stinker for the Aston Martin driver who dropped his car into the barriers inside the race’s first 10 laps, triggering a safety car. After finishing 10th in Bahrain, it was a night to forget and if he carries on like this, he knows that even though his dad may own the team, Aston Martin will have a tough decision to make.
Pierre Gasly – 1
Nothing short of a disaster for the Frenchman who had to retire in the second lap with a gearbox problem in his Alpine.
