“Mercedes was favourite in Jeddah, but Verstappen went like crazy there,” Christijan Albers cautions Ferrari ahead of Saudi Arabia GP

“Mercedes was favourite in Jeddah, but Verstappen went like crazy there,” Christijan Albers cautions Ferrari ahead of Saudi Arabia GP

Red Bull and Mercedes at the Jeddah in 2021

Ferrari clearly was the best on the Bahrain International Circuit on Sunday when they clinched an impressive 1-2 podium finish. The last time they secured a 1-2 podium finish was in 2010. This win also marked the first win for Ferrari after a solid drought of 910 days. The last time that they won a championship was in 2008. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen who’s currently the defending champion made sure to display his driving prowess by keeping close to Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc until the untimely retirement of his RB18 due to a severe fuel pump issue.

Dutch former professional racing driver Christijan Albers thinks that it’s not going to be the easiest task for Ferrari at the Jeddah where the teams will race this weekend for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Ferrari’s reliable F1-75 challenger was clearly the fastest at Bahrain. Verstappen positioned between Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, demonstrating that he is still capable of defeating Leclerc on Sunday. Verstappen’s teammate  Sergio Perez qualified fourth, exhibiting a more realistic tempo. Throughout the race, the Red Bull seemed to come up short of the Ferrari.

In the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix last year, Mercedes‘ 7-time world champion Lewis Hamilton beat Dutchman Max Verstappen after a thrilling battle. He made sure to display his fortitude in that race when the odds were completely against him.

FS Video

Red Bull could be possible favourites for Jeddah win

Ferrari and Red Bull at the Bahrain Grand Prix
Ferrari and Red Bull at the Bahrain Grand Prix

Dutch former professional racing driver Christijan Albers on being asked about his predictions for Jeddah race in 2022 mentioned, “Then the picture can be very different again. I remember from last year that everyone said Hamilton was going to win and that it was a real Mercedes circuit. But I think Verstappen was by far the fastest in that qualification. Only then he made that mistake in the last corner, but he went like crazy there”.

That it went well for Verstappen in Jeddah last year does not guarantee that it will also go well for the Dutchman this year. It does show that even at the end of the season and at the end of an F1 era, there can still be surprises in a weekend. Let alone when it is the second race of a new season and a new F1 era with new cars

Albers also added how he has a good feeling about Red Bull this week in terms of a good setup. “The basic set-up, the approach to the weekend, that they are going to start with is actually already perfect compared to Ferrari who had not performed so well last year,” explained the Dutch former driver.

Also Read: Red Bull try to reassess as to what went exactly wrong at the Bahrain GP