F1 Saudi Arabian GP Live Commentary and Updates - Race
Minute-by-minute updates for the 2024 Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Round two of the 2024 F1 season is here, with Max Verstappen starting from pole position for Red Bull.
But off the track it appears all-out war is unfolding at the world champions, as Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko stated he could be suspended after the race, which led to Verstappen indicating his position at the team might not be certain if Marko departs.
On the track, Oliver Bearman is set to make his F1 race debut as he steps in for Carlos Sainz at Ferrari, with the Spaniard sidelined by appendicitis. The British 18-year-old starts from 11th on the grid.
At the end of the first lap after the safety car the DRS is enabled but Norris has broken free and is more than one second ahead of Verstappen. The fight is on.
Norris delays his restart to the pit entry but nails it to keep Verstappen behind him. Piastri looks for a way by Leclerc around the outside at Turn 1 but gets shown the kerb.
Norris is the new leader having not stopped, with Verstappen slotting into second having pitted. Hamilton didn't pit and is up to third ahead of pitters Perez, Leclerc, Piastri and Alonso.
Red Bull is double stacking its drivers in the safety car period. That explains why Perez was dawdling behind his team-mate. They are joined by a host of cars so the order shakes up.
Stroll has walked away from his car, holding his chest. Replays show that he clipped the wall at the apex, which broke his suspension and caused him to be a passenger.
Alonso is coming back towards Piastri but he cannot get within striking range to try to retake fourth place. That Aston doesn't look quick in a straight line even with the aid of DRS.
Verstappen posts a new fastest lap of 1m33.754s to push his lead to 2.4s over Perez. Leclerc is hanging on to the Mexican and holding on to the DRS range.
"You are doing well, really well, but we are quicker than the cars in front," Ferrari informs Bearman. On the soft tyres, the British driver needs to start to make progress.
Mercedes had hoped that race pace would save them in today's race. We may only be on lap 4, but the hope so far is not being backed up by reality, with Russell one second off Norris.
Norris could be in trouble, it very much looks like a jump start from the replays. He moves, then stops again with his front wheels on the edge of his grid box.
Russell has reportedly said Norris jumped the start, he was certainly tardy off the line so maybe the McLaren had to check himself. Piastri has no such problem as he darts by Alonso into fourth at the end of lap one.
Verstappen aces the start and bolts across to block Leclerc, which invites Perez to attack the Ferrari driver but he braves it out. It is as you were at the front.
Bearman is a cool and calm customer most of the time but I bet his heartrate is cranking up right now. An F1 debut in a Ferrari. What dreams are made of.
As Woking score a last-minute winner up at Altrincham, I can now really enjoy this Saudi Arabian GP. But who will be celebrating like the Cards come the chequered flag?
As the drivers get strapped into their cars, a quick glance at the expected race strategies. A one-stopper is predicted, while tyre deg isn't a major concern in Jeddah so the drivers will be able to push throughout the stints.
Now there is a drone lights show over the track, which is currently depicting a driver's eyes in a helmet. No idea who that is meant to be, so let's go with generic racing driver.
The latest on the grid from Alex Kalinauckas: “Hamilton just winked at someone behind me as he scooted off the grid and it turned out to be his soon to be new boss, John Elkann. Elsewhere, I spotted Adrian Newey looking at Stroll’s Aston - Lawrence Stroll claps him on the shoulder and goes “Any ideas?””
The atmosphere is building on the grid as Bearman gets some final instructions from his Ferrari engineers. A few grid slots further ahead, Hamilton's Mercedes is undergoing some late work by his mechanics but all appears calm.
After all that, a word or two on the major story of the Saudi Arabian GP weekend. In short, the Red Bull management saga has rolled on from Bahrain and taken a fresh twist involving Horner, Marko and Verstappen.
