As the Formula 1 season heads into the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Sunday, McLaren has emerged as the dominant force, with drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri setting the pace. Norris holds a slim three-point lead in the drivers’ championship, but Piastri, fresh off a victory in Bahrain, carries significant momentum.

McLaren’s 58-point lead in the constructors’ championship underscores their consistency, outpacing rivals Ferrari, Red Bull, and Mercedes, who have struggled to mount a sustained challenge.

Defending champion Max Verstappen, the only non-McLaren driver to win a Grand Prix this season, remains optimistic despite Red Bull’s struggles. His sixth-place finish in Bahrain, marred by brake issues and poor car balance, raised concerns, with Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko suggesting Verstappen might question his future with the team.

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“I’m not thinking about the championship. I just go race by race,” Verstappen said, hopeful for improvements at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, where he has won twice.

Speculation about Verstappen joining Aston Martin, following designer Adrian Newey’s move, was dismissed by Fernando Alonso. “It’s unlikely to happen. Very unlikely,” Alonso said, affirming his current pairing with Lance Stroll.

The Saudi Arabian GP, the fifth race in six weeks, marks a grueling start to the 24-race season. Williams’ Alex Albon highlighted the toll on mechanics, who face tougher travel conditions than drivers. “It feels like race 10 already,” he noted, calling the schedule “the upper end of the limit.” Meanwhile, rookies like Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto relish the intense calendar, eager to learn. After Jeddah, a two-week break precedes the Miami Grand Prix.

McLaren is favored to continue their dominance, with predictions leaning toward a Norris-Piastri 1-2, though Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Mercedes’ George Russell could vie for the podium. 

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