A strong wind, abrupt turns on a slick track, and a greater requirement to use the kerbs than in Bahrain: Jeddah presents a number of difficulties for both Formula 1 drivers and their vehicles.
At one point, even Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez complained about the RB20 bouncing, and it appeared to be quite a handful over the kerbs. If we are just considering the long-run times, Red Bull appeared to have an even greater lead than in Bahrain.
Lewis Hamilton and George Russell both spent a lot of time fine-tuning the Mercedes’ anxious rear end, so the car was only used sparingly and got out late for its extended runs. Russell came out slightly behind Hamilton as a result, and he drove into the pits to get the two cars apart.
Following a significant snap, Hamilton mistakenly pressed his pit limiter button while trying to repair it, sending him into the pits with what he thought to be a power unit issue. Because of all of this, the Mercedes completed just seven long-run laps in total.
Russell’s average in that qualifying set of conditions was a promising second fastest. Similar to last year, Hamilton was not as at ease in the car at this point as Russell was.
He admitted, “I was a little nervous about the back of the car.” “I had a couple of moments out there, and I don’t quite have full confidence yet on such a high-speed track.”
