Alfa-Sauber lags behind – should the engine be protected?

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Alfa-Sauber immediately noticed two things: the major lender Stake had to be replaced in Australia by a subsidiary of the online provider (Kick). And while Aston-Martin-Mercedes, Ferrari and Haas-Ferrari traveled to the other end of the world without updates, the Hinwiler tries it with a new nose, a new front wing and a new rear-view mirror bracket.

Should Alfa-Sauber protect the engine?

In the first practice session (20 degrees and sunshine), the C43 of Bottas (18th) and Zhou (19th) banked backwards. Maybe Ferrari’s order came back: to save the engine? Only Magnussen in the Haas Ferrari was slower…

After 40 minutes the first red flag. Reason: The FIA ​​​​​​​​(GPS) satellite aid collapsed! After ten minutes it continued…

The second red flag three minutes before time: American Logan Sargeant parked the Williams-Mercedes next to the track. Training was not resumed.

Ferrari is happy with the break

Verstappen was fastest with 1:18.790. Much is still missing from Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari pole last year (1:17.168). At that time, the Monegask achieved one of the rare Grand Slams here: pole, victory, all leading laps and fastest lap.

De Monegasse with only six World Cup points (two more than Bottas): “The four-week break for Baku suits us well. This way we can further develop our car. Because we have a lot to catch up with Red Bull.”

Hamilton does not give up

There is Mercedes, which wants to copy Red Bull (Blick reported), to catch up with the race: Hamilton smuggled between the two bullcars. Alonso in fourth place in the green monster ahead of the red duo of Leclerc and Sainz.

Hamilton has now been waiting 25 races for his 104th GP win (since Jeddah 2021). The longest dry period of the seven-time world champion lasted three times ten World Cup races!

101st podium – five wins!

In the second practice session with only 17 degrees and thick rain clouds, it only took six minutes for veteran Fernando Alonso (41) to take the lead. The new Aston Martin superstar calculated quickly after his 100th podium in Jeddah: “Everyone in this club celebrated the 101st podium with a win!” They were Schumi, Hamilton, Prost, Vettel and Raikkonen.

So the Spaniard is really hot for his 33rd win in the 358th race. He would be the first driver to win more than 300 Grands Prix.

Rain stopped all attacks

After 16 minutes the rain came not unexpectedly. And so Alonso’s best time of 1:18.887 remained untouched for the time being. Behind the double world champions of 2005 and 2006: Leclerc, Verstappen, Russell, Sainz, Ocon, Pérez – 12th Bottas, 15th Zhou. Between Hamilton and the new national hero Piastri. But in the morning they were – just like Stroll and Albon – a lot faster than the Alfa duo.

Later, the two Ferraris entertained the more than 70,000 spectators with a short “wet” show. Soon after, Hamilton and Ocon were seen with the green Intermediates rubber.

Is Bridgestone coming back?

Oh yes, Formula 1 is looking for a tire partner from 2025 to 2028. Bridgestone would have applied alongside the current soloist Pirelli. The Japanese were successful in Formula 1 from 1998 to 2010 with 175 victories. So you were there during Schumi’s golden Ferrari days.

But the FIA ​​has made it clear: you only want one supplier. In the past, two or three manufacturers were often involved – and the “losers” always complained that their rivals had better tyres. An excuse that smelled like heaven over time and was intended to cover up your own problems with the car.

Formula 2 crash

Qualifying for Formula 2 has to be canceled due to an accident involving Frenchman Victor Martins. The fastest is the Japanese Ayumu Iwasa, second Théo Pourchaire from France. The Swiss Ralph Boschung is eleventh. After four races, Boschung (33 points) leads the World Championship ahead of Pourchaire (32) and Iwasa (31).

Source : Blick