Hamilton and Verstappen face challenges ahead of ultra-fast Saudi Arabia Grand Prix

Sitting in Jeddah this morning, preparing for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton have cause to suspect this may be a season like no other.

OK, we only have a sample of one, but the opening round of the new era in Bahrain last weekend was a tumultuous, roller-coaster of changing fortunes.

Today their concerns about the next round may be compounded by thoughts of taking to the ultra-fast Jeddah Corniche Circuit in ultra-fast cars with fundamental grip and grounding issues.

Of course, there’s no stopping their epic rivalry. Just a week ago the Dutchman was runaway title favourite. His Red Bull both reliable and fast in testing and practice.

One unexpected late-race retirement later and the sport’s feted new champion goes into Sunday’s second round hounded by the knowledge he is already battling the odds.

To put that into perspective, car problems caused him just one retirement in the entirety of 2021.

The Dutchman must view another 22-races splayed out across the globe, in a tightly contested championship, his margin of error already gone, with some alarm.

Hamilton has the opposite car issue – but equal alarm, I suspect.

His car is reliable but uncompetitive – well, uncompetitive in Mercedes terms (after a double Red Bull failure he still ended up on the podium in Bahrain).

Ferrari's Bahrain Grand Prix winner Charles Leclerc celebrates after the opening race of the season. AFP

The general consensus is that the W13 has plenty of speed - if it can be unlocked.

But Hamilton’s celebrations are muted by the reality that the same layout in Jeddah that favours his Red Bull rival appears to doom his car to mediocrity.

Saudi Arabia’s track has more corners than any other in the championship and its