In the round-up: Esteban Ocon is eager for his first experience of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, which he predicts will be similar to Azerbaijan’s Baku course.
In brief
Ocon excited by Jeddah track
Ocon said he is excited by the new Jeddah track after driving it in Alpine’s simulator. “I like these kind of crazy tracks – like Baku for example,” he said. “It pushes everything to the limit, and I think that will be fun.”He predicted the 6.1 kilometre layout, which is expected to yield among the highest average lap speeds of the season, will be physically demanding for drivers.
“The circuit looks quite demanding as it’s a fast street track with the walls close all the time. It’s extremely high speed with a lot of chicanes and fast corners one after the other with little room for rest.
With so many corners, it presents a challenge for the engineers to work out how best to set up the car with so many demands. It’s a long lap too, so I think it’s going to be very physical for us, and it’s important we stay focused.”
Another random technical check for Verstappen
The FIA performed extra physical inspections on Max Verstappen’s Red Bull car at the Qatar Grand Prix. It was chosen at random after he finished the race in second place behind Lewis Hamilton.⠀
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The rear inboard suspension components, associated sensors, wiring looms and connections to the SECU and other units were checked and found to be compliant with the rules.⠀
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The new physical inspections were introduced to the rules earlier this year and have taken place at every round since on different cars.⠀Verstappen’s car has now been inspected in this manner three times during the season, including after his victories at the Netherlands and Monaco.
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Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
To those of you asking about reports of an incident at one of our team facilities back in the UK, we can confirm that there was a small fire in the extraction system of our wind tunnel, which was quickly extinguished. Thank you for checking in on us, it means a lot. 💚
— Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) December 1, 2021
For Frank. 💙 pic.twitter.com/cJewQPXcAI
— George Russell (@GeorgeRussell63) December 1, 2021
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Links
Motor racing links of interest:
F1 under pressure to speak out against Saudi human right abuses (The Guardian)
"On Wednesday, Human Rights Watch and the Reprieve group wrote separately to F1 outlining their concerns. Amnesty International wa unequivocal in its criticism and the Codepink group has sent a letter to Lewis Hamilton, the world champion, signed by 41 organisations, requesting he speak to Saudi leaders to highlight human rights issues."
Audi and Porsche interest thanks to F1’s sustainability focus - Brawn (Racer)
"Sustainability and the assistance and solutions we can find for the environmental challenge is the next phase of Formula 1. But that’s actually why we’re seeing manufacturers take a much stronger interest in the sport because they can see the value of that involvement, and it’s no secret to say Volkswagen with Porsche and Audi are having a very close look at Formula 1 and that’s one of the reasons why they’re interested."
Christian's Column: The Final Two (Red Bull)
"Brazil was a different challenge for us however, and Max drove brilliantly all weekend, but the advantage Lewis had with the car was enormous. We have never that level of overtaking and with such ease, it was like a different formula."
No Sprint Qualifying for Australian GP (Speedcafe)
"So fans, if they’re looking for Sprint formats, would have to be looking at either on some of the European locations or on broadcast, but it’s not likely to be in Melbourne for April 2022."
"We think we’re going to have a fighting chance to bring that event here, but it’s not just the Formula 1, it’s major events right across the country and across the world that we’re going after."
The Journalist Who Broke the Biggest Story in Motorsport History (Road and Track)
"Every question I asked Ferrari, he answered so vividly. He was known for never talking to journalists. I have no idea why he talked to me."
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Comment of the day
Given that there has not been any good view of the circuit itself in a completed form until today; and we are going to see it only on Friday, it does concern me in terms of safety. It’s quite a high-speed circuit with no wiggle room in a lot of places, which forces you to go single file. The winner of this circuit is more in terms of who can run the engine at that level and keep the concentration for a long time; rather than actual wheel to wheel action.
I wonder how they will deal with blue flags in such a circuit at these speeds! For all the safety that F1 talks about, the way they have included this circuit in the calendar gives me a pause.
@Macademianut
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Katederby and Us Williams Fan!
15 comments on “Jeddah is another “crazy track” like Baku – Ocon”
Comments are closed.
Andy Bunting (@wildbiker)
2nd December 2021, 6:40
Jeddah circuit!
Zero track limit’s “problems”!
Jere (@jerejj)
2nd December 2021, 8:58
@wildbiker From my driving experience on F1 2021, some places could have those issues.
T10 exit, 16-17 runoff akin to Montreal’s 8-9, possibly also 2, 4, 7, & 8 exits.
None of these, except 2, would be an issue if the curbs were closer to the barrier & or wall, though.
Carbonized
2nd December 2021, 13:10
Zero track limit enforcement needed? Awesome!!!! Keep it on the black stuff boys!
w0o0dy (@w0o0dy)
2nd December 2021, 7:36
Verstappen gets 3 random technical inspections and how many checks did they do on Lewis’s car? 0 I believe…
minnis (@minnis)
2nd December 2021, 7:44
@w0o0dy do you have a source for Hamilton not being inspected? Or are you just using this to fuel an anti-verstappen conspiracy theory with no evidence?
MacLeod (@macleod)
2nd December 2021, 7:58
I think Lewis had 2 as they don’t check 1 car each race… But maybe @keithcollantine could check this out.
jff
2nd December 2021, 8:43
It seems to be more cars (plural) per round.
But why do people get upset when a car gets checked to be compliant?
Jere (@jerejj)
2nd December 2021, 9:06
@w0o0dy @macleod None. You can check these things here: https://www.fia.com/documents/season/season-2021-1108/championships/fia-formula-one-world-championship-14
Hungarian, Dutch, & Qatar GPs don’t have that post, though.
His car got possibly chosen in Silverstone, Spa, or Interlagos.
MacLeod (@macleod)
2nd December 2021, 9:22
Thank you for the link! I have to check the files for a while…
Becken Lima (@becken-lima)
2nd December 2021, 11:58
OMG… the evil FIA!!
Now we have proof that they´re really trying to give Lewis this championship.
Thank you for find out.
Andy (@andyfromsandy)
2nd December 2021, 13:22
Isn’t that what random means?
What about the other 19 cars? Did you look up all the other just make sure?
I would expect top point scorers to be scrutinised more often.
Jere (@jerejj)
2nd December 2021, 9:10
I’m also excited about this weekend’s circuit, although I’m not worried about safety like the COTD.
Of course, no Sprint for Melbourne. Did anyone really think Albert Park would get chosen?
Only Facts!
2nd December 2021, 9:17
Can we assume that Verstappen’s car won’t be checked again at Jeddah? So that keeps Mercedes or 3rd place (Ferrari or McLaren) on their toes…
Anyway, Mercedes gains seem to be a sum of parts: a tenth from that rear suspension, a tenth from the flexible low wing, a tenth from that new engine and so on. Removing one of them does not immediately looses you 4 tenths.
It’s RedBull that needs to find a couple of tenths. It won’t come from Honda or Verstappen, since they are all in already. It has to come from Newey.
Carbonized
2nd December 2021, 13:16
Don’t forget 4 tens for a scratched rear wing.
Andy (@andyfromsandy)
2nd December 2021, 13:24
Maybe let the tyres down a bit for more traction?