Saudi Arabia Grand Prix Preview: Max Verstappen and Red Bull to pull further ahead?

Formula 1 returns with a bang as the best race drivers in the world pull up to the track once more, with Max Verstappen leading the line after a dominant display in the first race of the season in Bahrain.

We preview the desert action and the race favourites below.

Red Bull to dominate

Beating second place by a resounding 11.987 seconds in Bahrain, the first race of 2023, Max Verstappen has well and truly continued his form of last season, which saw him win the title with 454 points. While it is hard to call how a season will pan out after just one race, Verstappen and Red Bull are already showing signs that they aren’t hanging about again this year.

In second place in Bahrain came Red Bull’s other driver, Sergio Perez, who was short of Verstappen by almost 12 seconds but ahead of the chasing back by another 27. Red Bull looks to have improved their car even more from last season, and with the calibre of the two frontmen, it is hard to see how any other team can really challenge them on the straights in Saudi Arabia.

The circuit in Jeddah is dominated by long straights which should see Red Bull take the advantage with the faster car. However, according, to Verstappen, the newer track should see the other racers close in and result in a tighter finish as the fresh track normally creates a more even playing field.

Though it may be closer than the first race of the season, Verstappen is still 1/2 to triumph, and Perez follows in the betting at 9/2. It will likely be another dominant day for Red Bull, and we like the look of Perez’s high returning odds on the newer track.

Aston Martin and Ferrari close behind

This season has seen the rapid and unexpected rise of Aston Martin, who now look to have a car capable of eclipsing even Mercedes and Ferrari, and with Fernando Alonso showcasing his masterful control of the vehicle, they look to be a bigger threat than we have seen in a number of years.

Finishing in seventh in the 2022 season, Aston Martin had a lot of ground to makeup, but it seems they are well in the groove in 2023, and unless some drastic difficulties with the car are uncovered, we could see a high number of podiums for the British team this year.

Their frontman Fernando Alonso is 9/1 to triumph in Jeddah after finishing third in Bahrain and with the distance he had over fourth-placed Carlos Sainz Jr of Ferrari (10 seconds), it is a safe bet that will make the podium once more. He is 8/11 to do so.

Ferrari looked strong in the preseason testing but with Charles Leclerc’s DNF in Bahrain, it is hard to feel supremely confident in how the Italian team will fare in 2023. Their other racer Carlos Sainz Jr looked good in Bahrain and the car will be more suited to the newer track and longer straights so him and Leclerc are certainly one’s to consider for the podium on Sunday. They are 16/1 and 10/1 respectively to win the race, and both 7/4 to take a first podium of the season.

Mercedes lagging behind

Lewis Hamilton and George Russell had difficult starts to the season in Bahrain, both being vocal about how far behind the Mercedes car has fallen behind the leaders. Despite their ongoing struggles with the car that finished in third in the Constructors Championship last season, the British pair managed to finish fifth and seventh in the opening race, showing that they haven’t given up the fight.

They will have a chance in Saudi Arabia but may have to settle for a third or second placed finish looking at how strong the rest of the grid is this term. They are 7/2 and 4/1 to finish on the podium respectively.