Are Ferrari Sandbagging Ahead Of The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - This Is What We Know

Could Ferrari still be in the chance for pole position for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix?

With the qualifying session for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix later today, many are wondering if the Ferrari team have been sandbagging over the first two free practice sessions. Here is a look at what we know so far. 

The general consensus throughout the paddock in the run up to the race weekend has been that the Jeddah street track will be best suited to the Ferrari's. Even Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso have been championing the Maranello-based squad as the ones to watch out for this weekend. 

However, when it came to the free practice sessions yesterday, the Italian team were off the pace. Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc ended up putting in the seventh and eleventh fastest times, respectively, during free practice one, and then the ninth and tenth fastest times in free practice two. 

Despite this, Leclerc, who is already taking a ten place grid penalty, did not seem concerned about the teams performance giving off subtle confidence for the race weekend ahead. He said to the media after the second practice session, as quoted by GPFans.com:

“There was nothing wrong [with the engine or energy deployment].

"There were a few events where I upshifted on kerbs or things like this which doesn’t put the engine in the best situation, so I complained to make sure everything was fine and everything is fine.

“We have quite a bit in the locker.

"How much? Let’s see. I’m sure Red Bull also has something hidden, so we will see tomorrow, but I think it will be closer than what we see now.

“I don’t think we are that bad. Honestly, the feeling is pretty good but it’s very difficult to read into the performance because everyone is doing very different things with power, weight etc.”

The Ferrari team shocked fans yesterday by revealing that they have replaced both Leclerc and Sainz's power units. This is extremely early in the season to be doing that, however, after Leclerc's DNF in Bahrain and the other parts they have replaced on his car, they did not want to take any chances.

Sainz has also spoken about the teams performance, he explained to Sky Sports:

"I feel closer than Bahrain.

"Our position today doesn't reflect our true pace.

"We look competitive in the long runs so I am more positive going into the weekend.

"Red Bull are clear favourites but Aston Martin and Mercedes are there with us in terms of pace.

"The overall feeling, I feel closer. If it's enough to be on the podium or battle at the top we will see on Sunday."

Sky Sports pundit Karun Chandhok has analysed the situation, saying he expects them to be in the fight for pole position later today:

"Their fans took a lot of beating last year and everyone was hoping this year was going to start differently, and it hasn't so far.

"I do think Ferrari were holding back. I do think with all the reliability concerns they've got, they haven't turned the engines up as much as they'd like on a Friday.

"I expect them, certainly in qualifying, to be right in the fight for pole position. What happens in the race, we'll see as time unfolds.

Here's how to watch free practice 3 and qualifying later today.