Admittedly, it was only the first grand prix of a year which will include 22 (since the cancellation of the Russian stage).
Admittedly, there is still a long way to go and everything can be reversed very quickly in Formula 1. Nevertheless, for Red Bull, there is a certain urgency to react after what Christian Horner, its director, had described as "the
worst possible nightmare
".
Namely a zero point during the inaugural event of the 2022 season on the Sakhir circuit, in Bahrain.
What had not happened to the Austrian team since a home race in 2020, during which neither Max Verstappen, betrayed by the electronics of his single-seater, nor Alexander Albon, overwhelmed by his engine, had been able to see the checkered flag.
To discover
Formula 1: the calendar for the 2022 season
Formula 1: manufacturers' classification
Formula 1: drivers classification
Last weekend, Horner had already established a first diagnosis: “
It seems that there was a similar problem on both cars.
We don't know exactly what it is yet, if it's a problem with the fuel pump, a manifold or something like that, but we need to look into the problem and figure out exactly what's going on. the cause.
“Since then, the engineers of the brand with the red bull have had time to analyze what had immobilized their two cars in the last laps of the race, and to correct the problem as mentioned in a press release published on Friday: “
Both cars suffered from low fuel pressure last weekend.
The correct amount of fuel was on board both cars, but a vacuum prevented the pumps from drawing in fuel and delivering it to the engine.
We have taken the necessary steps to correct this malfunction and we do not expect any problems this weekend.
»
We have a very long season ahead of us.
It was only the first race.
Max Verstappen
Admitted fault completely corrected?
That's what Max Verstappen wants to believe.
“
Last weekend was difficult for all of us.
We win and we lose as a team and we will come back stronger.
We have a good set and we were competitive in Bahrain, so there are positives to take from the weekend.
We have a very long season ahead of us.
It was only the first race.
Nevertheless, the world champion knows how to count perfectly and does not ignore that Charles Leclerc inflicted a 26-0 on him in Bahrain, at the wheel of a Ferrari which went from a dull red to a much more flamboyant one since Carlos Sainz Jr. finished second.
Turning the other cheek in Saudi Arabia would result in further widening the gap and increasing the confidence of a prancing horse ready to gallop again after trotting for several seasons.
Jeddah more favorable than Sakhir?
But, in the past, the Sakhir circuit has generally been a stronghold for the Scuderia and Jeddah's playground will prove very different from the previous one.
Admittedly, the race will still take place at night but, after a classic circuit in the desert, Saudi Arabia offers the fastest urban route of the season (more than 250 km/h on average over a qualifying lap last year ), by the sea. “
We will have to see our competitiveness here
”, remarks Leclerc with lucidity.
“
It's so close with Red Bull that it can go either way, track to track.
In any case, Verstappen has not lost hope, quite the contrary.
"
Last year the humidity was a challenge here and they made some small adjustments to improve visibility in the first sector, so I'm curious to see how it will be this time.
It's a very fast track with high speed straights and this year the cars are slightly heavier.
It will therefore be very interesting to see how they will behave.
I'm really looking forward to it, it should be nice.
We wish him to always have the same feeling on Sunday evening.