'Mercedes was favourite in Jeddah, but Verstappen went like crazy there'

Ferrari were overwhelmingly the best in Bahrain, while Max Verstappen kept up well with Charles Leclerc. At the next Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia, things could look very different again according to Christijan Albers.

Ferrari were very strong at the Bahrain International Circuit, and the F1-75 seemed to be the fastest car of the weekend. Verstappen qualified between Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, showing he could still take on the polesitter on Sunday. Teammate Sergio Perez, on the other hand, perhaps showed a more representative pace by qualifying fourth, as the Red Bull seemed to fall just a bit short of the Ferrari the entire race. This coming weekend is the second race of the season, and Albers thinks the roles could be very different in Jeddah.

Red Bull on top again in Jeddah

In the Formula 1 Podcast by De Telegraaf, the former F1 driver looks ahead to upcoming race together with Erik van Haren, and discuss the possible changing proportions on the circuit with long straights. Albers said: "Then the picture can be very different again. Van Haren: "I remember from last year that everyone said Hamilton was going to win and that it was a real Mercedes circuit. But I think Verstappen was by far the fastest in that qualification. Only then he made that mistake in the last corner, but he went like crazy there."

The fact it went well for Verstappen in Jeddah last year does not guarantee that it will also go well for the Dutchman this year. It does show that even at the end of the season and at the end of an F1 era, there can still be surprises in a weekend, let alone when it is the second race of a new season and a new F1 era with new cars. Albers also thinks Red Bull are in very good shape next weekend. "When it comes to the set-up, it does give Red Bull a good feeling. They had a strong car there last year. The basic set-up, the approach to the weekend, that they are going to start with is actually already perfect compared to Ferrari who had not performed so well last year."