The second round of the 2023 Formula 1 Championship has arrived: the Saudi Arabian GP. The Jeddah Corniche Circuit has been controversial, but the track has evolved every year since the first race in 2021.

After the dominance of Red Bull in the Bahrain GP, we’re all interested in what the second round will provide. Will Red Bull seal off another 1-2? Will Mercedes break through into the fight and will both Ferraris complete the race? Here are five things we think you can expect in this weekend’s Saudi Arabian GP.

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1. Red Bull Dominance

It’s no secret that Red Bull has the fastest car this year. Max Verstappen walked the Bahrain GP and it’s very unlikely that any other team will challenge for the top spot. However, Verstappen did fall ill in the last week and arrived late to the track. The Jeddah Circuit is so narrow at times that even the slightest dip in confidence can send you tumbling down the timesheet.

To put even more pressure on Max, Alonso is not far off the pace. While we expect Alonso to fight for a podium, any slip from Red Bull could see him clinch P2 or even a shock win.

2. Mercedes Upgrades

Mercedes started the 2023 season even further off the pace than in 2022. Aston Martin leapfrogged the team from Brackley, even though they are using many Mercedes parts. This caused Mercedes to issue an official apology to fans and numerous emergency meetings among management.

The result of this is that the Mercedes will evolve at a much faster rate. George Russell noted that visible upgrades are on the way and minor upgrades are already installed in the W14. Will this be enough to beat Ferrari and challenge Aston Martin for second place? We’ll find out soon enough.

3. Track Upgrades

The Jeddah Corniche Circuit was controversial from day one. As the fastest street circuit, the track was famous for lap one incidents. Upgrades were made last year, but that didn’t stop Mick Schumacher from destroying his Haas in a very high speed shunt. Further upgrades have been made to keep corners fast, flowing, and safe.

4. A Possible New Lap Record

The Jeddah Corniche Circuit is still brand new. Lewis Hamilton claimed pole in 2021 while Sergio Perez grabbed his first-ever pole in 2022 at the venue.

However, Sir Lewis Hamilton still owns the lap record at the circuit. This is because the 2022 Formula 1 cars were around a second slower than the 2021 cars. Bahrain hints that the 2023 cars are noticeably faster than last year. This could mean that a Sir Lewis Hamilton’s lap record of 1 min 30,734 seconds may be broken this weekend.

5. Red Flags and Safety Cars

While the track has been upgraded for safety, we still expect a few safety car periods. This may slow down the race, but they have the potential to make everything more exciting. Strategies (and sometimes rules) are thrown into the wind. This opens the door for teams to steal a cheap pit stop and challenge for higher positions or even the win.