Mattia Binotto is bracing himself for red flags and Safety Cars that have the potential to shake up the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, and believes Ferrari can be happy knowing their cars will start the race in second and third. Charles Leclerc was just two-hundredths of a second away from taking pole position for Sunday's 50-lap race, and he crossed the line happy with his final run. The Monegasque, who currently leads the World Drivers' Championship, was pipped by Red Bull's Sergio Perez in the very final moments of Saturday evening's session. Perez's lap prevented Ferrari from locking out the front row of the grid just a week on from claiming a 1-2 finish at the season-opening Bahrain GP.
Red Bull's pole position no surprise to Ferrari
For Ferrari, it is no shock to see a Red Bull car starting ahead of them on race day, and Perez has all that it takes to turn that pole into a win, reckons Binotto. "Sergio is always a good racer. He's very fast and has got a very good race pace, so certainly, starting in pole, he can do it," Binotto told Sky Sports F1 . "It's a great car, that car, so it's not necessarily for us a surprise. Obviously, we maybe were waiting for Max to be fast, but overall, it's a good fight and it's a good challenge. "I think it's great to be there together with them to fight for the pole and, personally, I'm happy for our second and third position."
Saudi GP could throw up plenty of surprises
However, the Italian team are not concerned about their cars failing to claim pole position in Jeddah, with the Saudi Arabian GP expected to throw up plenty of surprises. Last season's race saw two restarts and a Safety Car, offering teams that seized any opportunities the platform to snatch a strong result. "I think the race will be interesting for all of us, and anything may happen here in Jeddah. Red flags, Safety Cars... it can be a gamble," Binotto added. "In the end, I think it is about staying focused and trying to get the most out of the opportunities, and [to] see how the race will finish. "I think after Bahrain, to be here once again competitive and showing that the car is great, and that the drivers can do well... I'm pretty happy with that!"
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