Formula 2 heads to the fastest street circuit on the calendar for round 2 of the championship. Zane Maloney and Rodin secured victories in both races in Round 1, can they continue their form? Or will someone else join the winners’ circle?
Here’s Desi Racing Co’s guide ahead of the Round 2 of the 2024 Formula 2 season.
Round 1 Preview – Back to Bahrain
Before we begin to walk through the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, here’s a quick recap of how Round 1 at the Bahrain Grand Prix went:
- The 20-year-old young man from Barbados, Zane Maloney of Rodin Motorsports drove away as a winner of both the Sprint and the Feature race
- The highly anticipated duo of Oliver Bearman and Andrea Kimi Antonelli only took away 1 point from the entire weekend for PREMA Racing
- Kush Maini, the Indian driver from Invicta Racing, jumped from a P22 to P7 in the feature race after being disqualified from the Qualifying session due to a technical infringement
- The rookie from Campos Racing Josep María Martí, scored a double podium and started his debut season the right way
Jeddah Corniche Circuit: A Daunting Challenge
The Jeddah Corniche Circuit is a temporary street circuit and also the second longest Formula 1 circuit on the calendar, being 6.174 kilometres in length. It has 27 corners and is also one of the fastest street circuits in the world with speeds going up to 334.6km/h.
The circuit is long, has multiple corners, and is an exciting street circuit. But there are many things the teams and drivers will need to look out for:
Teams will need to balance – high downforce for slow corners vs. speed for straights
- Warmer temperatures & high grip will demand careful tyre management by the drivers
- Heavy fuel usage will occur due to the track layout
- Hard braking zones – Turns 1, 2 & final corner will test the drivers
Tyre Strategy: Balancing Speed and Endurance
Pirelli has allocated Mediums (yellow) & Supersofts (purple) – the same as in 2023
- Potential Risk/Reward: Starting on Supersofts
– Pros: Quicker warmup, better initial grip for early gains
– Example: 2023 winner Frederic Vesti (started P6, finished P4)
- Alternative Strategy: Starting on Mediums
– Slower warmup but better tyre life for late-race battles. It will also be suited for hot Jeddah temperatures.
Drivers to Watch: Championship Contenders and Rising Stars
- Zane Maloney, the championship leader after Round 1 is heading to the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix as a favourite. Rodin Motorsports and Maloney dominated in Bahrain, but it wasn’t a surprise since pre-season testing was held there too. The real test: replicating that win on a new track with a different car setup. Can they translate their Bahrain form and prove their car works across circuits? That’s crucial for title hopes.
- The Invicta Racing drivers Kush Maini and Gabriel Bortoletto showed might pace during the Bahrain Grand Prix. They qualified P1 and P2 and secured a P7 and P5 in the feature race respectively.
- Rookies ruled Bahrain! 4 of the top 5 point-scorers were newcomers, with Martí and Aron leading the pack on the podium. But can they adapt? Unlike Bahrain (where many raced F3 previously and tested in F2 machinery), Jeddah is a whole new challenge. The tight, fast street circuit will be their first big test, showing if they can adjust and push their limits in qualifying.
- Rough weekend for PREMA racing. Both drivers missed the top 10 in qualifying, though Andrea Kimi Antonelli salvaged a P10 in the Feature Race. They’ve struggled in Bahrain before, so Jeddah will be a big test: are they adapting poorly to the new car, or are these Bahrain-specific issues?
- Isack Hadjar impressed with a P4 in the Sprint Race and front-row in qualifying, but a first-lap crash in the Feature Race halted his momentum. The team hopes his pace translates to future races for a shot at the title.
Fun Fact: Anybody’s Game
None of the drivers on the current grid in Formula 2 has won in Jeddah before. Victor Martins, however, has secured a pole in qualifying in 2023.
Prediction Time: Who Will Conquer the Corniche?
The Jeddah Corniche Circuit being a fast-paced street circuit also means there might be higher chances of Turn 1 chaos, DNFs, and Safety Cars. Who do you think will come out on top?
Schedule and where to watch:
The F2 weekend starts on Thursday 7th March with free practice at 3:25 PM IST. A detailed schedule is given below.
You can watch all the sessions live on F1TV or Fancode in India.
