Max Verstappen delivered a masterful lap in Saturday’s qualifying to safe pole place for at the moment’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, driving his RB21 that options a number of reliability and efficiency upgrades at Jeddah.
The observe is 6.174 kilometres lengthy and one of many quickest of the season with drivers spending round 80% of the lap with the accelerator buried to the ground, despite the fact that it’s pretty twisty and boasts a document variety of corners, 27 the truth is, with 16 to the left and 11 to the precise.
A lot of them are taken at medium or excessive velocity. Though there are three DRS zones, overtaking just isn’t that simple as a result of lack of any heavy braking factors.
The observe floor just isn’t very abrasive, with a median stage of roughness, however the lateral forces exerted on the tyres are appreciable, though not on the stage to be discovered at Suzuka or Barcelona for instance. Graining can put in an look, particularly within the first free apply classes because the observe may be very soiled to begin with, as a result of it’s hardly ever used for motor racing.
Because of Jeddah’s excessive velocity nature, a number of staff have elected to introduce upgrades to their automobiles, with the vast majority of the upgrades specializing in the distinctive coolin necessities and the lengthy full-throttle sections of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
Crimson Bull have introduced each efficiency and reliability upgrades to Spherical 3 of the 2025 F1 season.
In Saudi Arabia, the RB21 options an enlarged central exit which was needed as a result of very excessive ambient temperatures on the Jeddah spherical that takes place a month later than final 12 months which imply considerably hotter situations than twelve months in the past.
Relating to the cooling modifications, Crimson Bull have famous: “Calls for of circuit in Jeddah with the forecast ambient temperatures require the usage of a bigger prime physique to reject the warmth wanted for cooling.
The Milton Keynes-based squad additionally introduced a efficiency improve in type of a brand new beam wing. The modified wing includes a diminished chord and camber, with Crimson Bull explaining: “A step to scale back the downforce at a given velocity to look at the raise/drag necessities for this circuit.
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