Saudi Arabia GP: Max Verstappen's Bahrain dominance set to come under scrutiny

Sunday’s second round of the Formula One World Championship in Saudi Arabia will reveal more detail of this year’s promising new plot lines.

As anticipated after pre-season testing, champions Red Bull are pacesetters – but are the iconic brands of Ferrari or Aston Martin the chief pursuers?

Is the Maranello revolution being masterminded by new boss Fred Vasseur a launching pad to greater glory or yet another series of self-inflicted wounds as they shed key staff?

Pundits say Max Verstappen’s easy victory in Bahrain is evidence he is set to run away with his third successive title.

And Mercedes’ George Russell even predicted the Dutchman, who has won 10 of the last 12 GPs, could win all 23 this season.

But Red Bull design genius Adrian Newey was more cautious because of the unique characteristics of the opening round track. “It’s from a sample of one,” he said.

And history backs him up. Twelve months ago Charles Leclerc’s opening victory led to a widespread coronation, only to be followed by a string of disasters and an all-too predictable tailspin.

In fact the winner of the opening race has become champion just three times in the last 13 years, and not once in the last six.

Far from being a predictor of form, Bahrain victory has, in fact, usually been the kiss of death for title hopefuls.

Jeddah, too, is far from typical of the tracks to come. But sparks will surely fly at the most dangerous event of the year.

The Corniche night race will take place behind unparalleled security after last year’s rocket attack on a local oil depot almost led to a driver walkout and a cancelled GP.

Their biggest threat now comes from the snaking track itself, where speeds average 253 kph.

There is precious little run off area and plenty of