2024 Saudi Arabian GP Qualifying Update – JP
2024 Saudi Arabian GP Qualifying Update
Now, it is time for James Punt’s 2024 Saudi Arabian GP Qualifying update. He has already posted his outright betting preview, read that for free here.
2024 Saudi Arabian GP Qualifying
The high speed nature of this track has not put Red Bull out of their stride. Indeed, they look better here than in Bahrain.
Red Bull had a small one lap advantage over the Ferrari of Leclerc in FP3, but Verstappen didn’t nail his final run. He is a bit wary of the final corner here having stuffed it into the wall in 2021. I suspect that when Q3 comes, he will be giving it full beans. Perez was third fastest, as he was in FP1. He looks in good shape and might make the front row.
Sainz Out
Ferrari have lost the services of Carlos Sainz for the rest of the weekend. He is off to hospital for an appendectomy. F2 driver Oliver Bearman has taken his place and he was tenth fastest in FP3. He might well improve on that but we should be realistic.
In terms of qualifying Verstappen looks very strong and it is probably a matter of who comes second. Leclerc looks the most likely, if not it should be Perez.
The rest were over 0.5 off Max’s pace and you can throw a blanket over the Mercedes, McLaren and Aston Martin. The Russell vs. Norris battle should be close for a place on the second row.
Hamilton Struggling
Lewis Hamilton continues to struggle this weekend. He is not happy with the car, says he is lacking confidence, and the rear end is too loose. George Russell is going much better, comfortably quicker in every session.
Aston Martin looked good yesterday, but we have to remember that they are sponsored by the Saudi energy giant Aramco, and I suspect that they were light on fuel and higher on power unit modes. Alonso said as much and they dropped down the order today. Lance Stroll is much closer this weekend.
Q3
Could one of the second division drivers make Q3? The Haas was looking quicker today as they switched to low fuel running. It was Magnussen who was eleventh fastest. KMAG is usually slower than Hulkenberg over one lap, so maybe the German can sneak it, but Magnussen does go well here also.
The Hulk just missed out here last year, qualifying eleventh. If Bearman doesn’t quite cut it in battle today, perhaps there will be a spot in Q3 up for grabs.
Alpine, always decent here, look better than last week, not good enough for Q3, but Gasly might not be far off.
Strike F1 are on the back foot. Bottas is slow and Zhou totalled his car and it will be a rush just to get him to the track.
Qualifying Betting
It looks like a two horse race for pole. Verstappen is the 1.45 favourite, with Leclerc a best priced 4.50. I can’t argue with those odds.
I was hoping for pro Hamilton pricing to give us some value on Russell to outqualify him, but 1.35 is the best on offer.
Gasly to out qualify Ocon? The Gas Man beat Ocon in six of the last seven qualifying sessions of 2023. He has been faster in two of the three practice session this weekend so far. He is 1.73 favourite to do it again in actual qualifying. The odds are tempting, but just not quite enough.
Yuki Tsunoda out qualified Ricciardo 4-3 in their races together in 2023 and started 2024 by out qualifying the Aussie in Bahrain. After being told to give Riccardo his place in last weekend’s race, he would love to stick it to him this weekend.
He has been faster in FP2 and FP3 and he is the sole selection for today’s session.
2024 Saudi Arabian GP Qualifying Tip: 1 point Yuki Tsunoda to out qualify Daniel Ricciardo @ 1.86 with Unibet
Ladbrokes are at least trying to offer some interest and I will bite on their odds for Hulkenberg to make Q3 for the second weekend in a row. It may take Bearman to drop the ball in the Ferrari, but the Haas does look to be the best second division car so far.
