Because of Max Verstappen’s success, new figures are emerging frequently.
At the F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix late on Saturday, Verstappen became the seventh driver in Formula 1 history to record both a 56th and a 100th career podium result. Though he is still a long way from Lewis Hamilton’s championship record of 197, he is expected to overtake Arabian Grand (103) and Fernando Alonso and Alain Prost (both 106).
Upon learning of the accomplishment—which was only his 188th—Verstappen chuckled, saying, “It’s 88 missed podiums!” Naturally, I’m thrilled about that, but I’m not really into looking at numbers, so I’m just glad I reached 100.
Ferrari won’t rush Carlos Sainz’s return from his appendix surgery in Jeddah. Sainz performed a herculean effort to drive in practice, having reported unwell on Wednesday for media day, having initially thought he was suffering from food poisoning.
Instead Sainz went to hospital in Jeddah for successful surgery and was released in time to gingerly attend Saturday’s race. Formula 1 has a rest weekend prior to the next event in Australia though drivers naturally need to travel earlier than usual due to the time zone shift.
“It’s a huge recovery, now we have to be focused on Melbourne, he needs to have a good rest this week and we’ll see next week,” said Ferrari Team Principal Frederic Vasseur.
If Sainz cannot participate then Ferrari will have Ollie Be
Officials at Qiddiya have revealed more plans as well as the layout of the proposed Speed Park. The enormous sports, entertainment and leisure facility has been a long-term project in Saudi Arabia and is tentatively due to open in 2027, though no launch date has ever been set.
State-funded Qiddiya has been designed by ex-F1 driver Alex Wurz and renowned track specialist Hermann Tilke, and its centrepiece is set to be the first turn, dubbed “The Blade”, a cantilevered section of track which will rise 70 meters, equivalent to a 20-story building. Qiddiya Speed Park, planned to have an overall elevation change of 108 meters, is set to have 21 corners, and will have the Tuwaiq mountains as a backdrop. Several Formula 1 drivers took to social media to laud Qiddiya’s plans in a piece of not-so-subtle promoted content.
arman, who is due to race in Formula 2 in Australi, on standby once more.
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