BONUS: The Race F1 Briefing recaps Bearman's debut & Saudi Arabia qualifying
Mar 8, 2024
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In this bonus episode, The Race F1 Briefing recaps Ollie Bearman's surprising F1 debut, Saudi Arabia qualifying, and Red Bull Racing's fresh crisis. The focus is on the remarkable pole position by the 18-year-old British rookie, insights into F1 drivers' challenges and expectations, and Audi's major decision to manage their Formula One team in 2026.
Ollie Bearman's impressive F1 debut at Saudi Arabia showcased Ferrari's recruitment strategy and the young rookie's potential
Max Verstappen's dominant pole position in Saudi Arabia highlighted Red Bull's competitive edge and the challenge posed to Mercedes
Deep dives
Oli Bemann's Sudden Ferrari Debut
Ferrari announced Oli Bemann as a replacement for Carlos Sines in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix due to appendicitis. Bemann, an 18-year-old British rookie and Ferrari junior, debuted with just one practice session before qualifying. Despite not contending for pole position, he impressed, becoming the third youngest driver to start a Grand Prix and the first English driver for Ferrari since 1972.
Max Verstappen's Dominance in Qualifying
Max Verstappen secured pole position for the Grand Prix, leading by over three tenths, with Charles Leclerc in second. In an impressive qualifying session, the top positions were closely contested, with Sergio Perez and Fernando Alonso following closely. Lando Norris observed a potential struggle to fight Ferraris and Red Bulls, aiming to challenge Mercedes instead, while George Russell aimed to utilize straight-line speed for grid advancement.
Audi's Takeover of Sauber and Red Bull's Internal Turmoil
Audi acquires Sauber, merging a significant move for its future F1 team debut in 2026. Meanwhile, Red Bull faces internal discord involving Helmut Marko, with potential repercussions for Max Verstappen's future linked to Marko's status within the team. Marko's role within Red Bull comes under scrutiny for leaked information, raising uncertainties about his continued presence and its impact on key team dynamics.
As a bonus in this feed, we present The Race F1 Briefing: The Race's new short-form podcast, released on all four days of each F1 race weekend. In this episode, join James Baldwin for a quick-fire run through all of the big F1 headlines from Friday in Saudi Arabia, including a recap of qualifying, news of Ollie Bearman's surprise F1 debut, and a fresh crisis for Red Bull Racing.
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