Really does feel like we need a couple more teams on the grid so that there's actually some space for new talent. The best drivers seem to be lasting longer now than ever.
Also, it really makes little sense that the F2 winner can't return to F2, but there's also no guaranteed spot in F1...
To me it looks like a very power hungry track, but will probably provide extremely limited on track action
Verstappen half a second slower than Lewis in P2. Think Bottas really should have done better than that. Gasly went over a kerb and destroyed his front wing puncturing his tyre. Jesus.
Unsure if Bottas was impacted by Gasly. Lewis definitely got a lap in clear of that, but I don't who was behind Gasly when he smashed up his front end. They didn't put out yellow flags for it, but if anyone was coming up on him when he did that, they will have lost time. That second lap Lewis put in was an absolute monster though. Could result in some interesting stuff tomorrow. Most of the curbs are quite low profile, but the cars being allowed to run out to the limit of the curbs, not the white lines. Outside the main curbs are some really rough bits (which is what Gasly hit), so I wouldn't be surprised if we see some weirdness due to that tomorrow.
Max given a 5 place grid penalty for ignoring double waved yellows, Bottas with a 3 place penalty for ignoring a single yellow. Gasly starts 2nd, Alonso 3rd.
Lewis 2 seconds ahead of Alonso at the end of the first lap Jesus Christ. Verstappen is up to second.
Russell with a puncture too. Lando seemed to come in to avoid a puncture and Bottas retired. Latifi with a puncture now.
Horner is in trouble with the FIA for being a gobshite. Delicious. Also, when asked about his penalty for the yellow flag thing, Max said the stewards never give him presents. Short memory there...
Demo lap of the recently finished Jeddah circuit; looks like we're going to see several safety cars, and very little overtaking. Seems like a circuit that should suit the better handling Red Bull
Not feeling confident we're going to see much of a race on this circuit. I'm guessing it might be a bit like Baku, with a lot incidents, safety cars and the overtaking all done under DRS down the pit straight.
Fuck! Max was doing a lap of the gods, destroying Lewis’ pole time, before hitting the wall on the final corner
That was a tense last few moments. Max was clearly wringing every last bit out of that Red Bull. He nearly had it in the wall in the first corner as well.