Bradford Masters the Chaos as De Gaaij Delivers Ferrari’s First Podium in Jeddah

Jeddah rarely disappoints, and this weekend’s Formula Один round proved once again that when speed meets walls, drama is inevitable. What began as a tense, unpredictable qualifying session spiraled into one of the most chaotic races of the season — one marked by mechanical failures, daring recoveries, and a long-awaited breakthrough for Ferrari.

Qualifying set the tone early. On the narrow streets of Jeddah, finding space for a clean lap was a luxury few could afford. Several drivers were impeded; others simply ran out of road. Silver Carlos looked destined for something special — his AlphaTauri was flying on a potential 1:27-something lap before Claus Kaltenbach’s Red Bull wandered into his path, ending any hope of pole. Frustration soon turned to disaster when Carlos, pushing too hard to recover, lost the rear and met the wall in sector 3. Vahishton Turboslav endured an equally miserable session, twice losing front wings and hot laps in heavy traffic, while Havspiser Gatevold’s blistering pace ended in heartbreak when his Ferrari sputtered dry of fuel just meters from the line.

Classic Kaltenbach

Measuring the amount of fuel in espresso cups didn't work out for Ferrari.

But amid the mayhem came flashes of brilliance. Erik De Gaaij stunned the paddock with a sensational fourth-place lap — a bolt from the blue that placed him on the second row, AlphaTauri’s highest starting position of the year. And at the very front, Sajiki Jones delivered when it mattered most, snatching a surprise pole position from championship leader Rum Balls Bradford by a few hundredths of a second. The AlphaTauri garage erupted; the Williams camp quietly seethed. The stage was set.

Then came the race — and with it, carnage. As the lights went out, disaster struck for Silver Carlos yet again. A sudden mechanical failure sent his AlphaTauri veering into chaos, clipping both McLarens and triggering an early safety car. It was an incident that shaped the afternoon: three full safety cars, two virtuals, and countless close calls turned the Saudi circuit into a high-stakes endurance test. Through it all, Jones fought valiantly to defend his lead from the relentless Bradford, holding off attack after attack with measured precision. But as tire wear mounted and the Williams found its rhythm, the resistance finally broke — Bradford swept past to claim a commanding victory and extend his championship momentum.

Behind them, De Gaaij’s quiet brilliance continued. The Dutchman’s pace was steady, his composure unshakable. While chaos erupted around him, he guided his Ferrari home for a first-ever podium finish — and Ferrari’s long-awaited first of the season. It was a drive of maturity and grit that earned him near-unanimous acclaim as Driver of the Day. His teammate Gatevold, despite the disappointment of qualifying, salvaged valuable points with P8, capping off Ferrari’s strongest weekend to date.

Our podium with Erik de Gaaij enjoying his champagne.

Further back, McLaren once again triumphed in their ongoing battle with Asko Martti. Jean-Émmanuel Tyrnado and Turboslav recovered from early setbacks to finish fourth and fifth, outpacing the rival team whose lead car, Elgu Lorenzo-Quaker, could manage only seventh. Kainalo Jones’s weekend, by contrast, unraveled spectacularly — a series of rash overtakes and ill-timed lunges saw him collide with slower traffic before bowing out with a DNF.

Haas fared little better. Pietro Pepovic spun out mid-race, while Yisk Svensson’s afternoon was defined by unfulfilled pace — even his fastest lap of the Grand Prix couldn’t lift him higher than a muted ninth. Red Bull’s misery deepened as both drivers retired in accidents, leaving the team pointless once again. Only Toshiba Stereo Jira’s solitary tenth place offered Alpine a flicker of consolation.

Yet among the chaos, one name quietly shone: Kermit Fatzinger. The Alfa Romeo driver battled wheel-to-wheel in the midfield for much of the race and emerged with his best finish of the season in sixth — a reward for consistency and courage on a day when many faltered.

Fatzinger's lap-long fight for position vs Jira.

When the dust settled, Rum Balls Bradford stood atop the podium once more, extending his grip on the championship. Sajiki Jones could hold his head high after a fierce defense that reminded the grid of AlphaTauri’s raw pace. But the loudest applause belonged to Ferrari and Erik De Gaaij — a driver who, in one weekend, turned promise into performance and reignited Maranello’s belief that redemption is still possible.

Post-Race Notes

Driver of the Day: Erik De Gaaij – for his composed, error-free run to Ferrari’s first podium of the season.

Fastest Lap: Yisk Svensson – 1:30.998 (earning 1 extra point)

DNFs: Silver Carlos, Pietro Pepovic, Mumin Rikardo, Cronelius Paxington, Claus Kaltenbach, Fabiano Utz, Alejandro Alonso-Sainz

Updated Drivers’ Championship (after Round 8):

1. Rum Balls Bradford – 207 pts
2. Sajiki Jones – 99
3. Elgu Lorenzo-Quaker – 73
4. Eris Bernoulli-Bruschetta – 69
5. Vahishton Turboslav – 67
6. Erik De Gaaij – 58
7. Pietro Pepovic – 46
8. Jean-Émmanuel Tyrnado – 43
9. Silver Carlos – 38
10. Yisk Svensson – 30
11. Jacking Tosh – 29
12. Kermit Fatzinger – 28
13. Toshiba Stereo Jira – 19
14. Mumin Rikardo – 16
15. Kainalo Jones – 16
16. HavspiserGatevold – 12
17. Mihkel Latifi – 9
18. Alejandro Alonso-Sainz – 6
19. Daniil Blyat – 1
20. Cronelius Paxington – 1
21. Claus Kaltenbach – 0
22. Aoi Sennpai – 0

Championship Outlook

Rum Balls Bradford’s reign shows no signs of weakening — his 108-point lead over Sajiki Jones all but cements Williams’ control over the title fight. But beneath the surface, the momentum is shifting: AlphaTauri’s raw pace hints at unfinished business, while Ferrari’s resurgence under De Gaaij breathes new life into the midfield. McLaren continues to build consistency, Asko Martti teeters on frustration, and Red Bull finds itself deep in a crisis of form. With only a handful of rounds remaining, Jeddah may well be remembered as the turning point — not in the fight for the crown, but in the battles for pride, progress, and redemption.