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McLaren Dominates Jeddah Practice as Ferrari Awaits Upgrade Validation

Lando Norris leads FP2 with McLaren showcasing strong pace, while Ferrari and Red Bull grapple with performance gaps ahead of Saudi Arabian GP qualifying.

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Race winner Max Verstappen of Netherland and Oracle Red Bull Racing during the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on March 09, 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
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Overview

  • McLaren solidified its early-season dominance with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri leading FP2, continuing to outperform rivals in both one-lap and long-run simulations.
  • Ferrari's upgraded floor, introduced in Bahrain, showed promise but awaits further validation under Jeddah's high-speed conditions; Charles Leclerc was fourth in FP2, while Lewis Hamilton struggled in P13.
  • Red Bull demonstrated improved one-lap pace, with Max Verstappen placing third in FP2, but continued to face significant tyre degradation during long runs.
  • Yuki Tsunoda caused a red flag in FP2 after crashing at the final corner, admitting driver error; Red Bull mechanics face overnight repairs to his car.
  • Data analysis revealed McLaren's advantage of 0.3 seconds in qualifying trim and up to 0.7 seconds in race simulations, with minimal tyre degradation compared to competitors.