A full debrief of the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Saudi Arabian Qualifying 2025
After impressive practice sessions from the McLaren duo, it seriously looked like we were about to get a full-on papaya front row — dreams, right? But then qualifying happened… and oh honey, everything changed.
Max Verstappen did what Max Verstappen does best — show up when it matters most. With a perfectly timed lap right at the end, he snatched pole with a record-breaking 1:27.294. Red Bull played it smart, fueling him just enough for two laps, both of which needed to be spot on — and of course, they were. Never rule out Max Verstappen.
Piastri lost the fight by just 0.010 seconds which left him with a P2 start. Mr Consistent, George Russell, finishes off the top 3 after finding good pace in the Mercedes.
And then there’s Lando. He’d been looking seriously quick all weekend, and hopes were high heading into Q3. But things went sideways — literally — when he pushed a bit too hard through Turn 4-6 and clipped the wall. No lap time, and he’ll be starting down in P10. Norris would have his work cut out for him heading into the race, but we had seen him fight through the field before and we were sure he would do it again. Watch Lando’s qualifying incident here.
The Race
As the lights went out, all eyes were on the opening corners — and they did not disappoint. Drama arrived early in Turn 4, where Yuki Tsunoda and Pierre Gasly made contact in what was later deemed a “racing incident.” The collision sent Gasly straight into the wall, and although Tsunoda initially looked like he might continue, both drivers were ultimately forced to retire. Cue the safety car — and with it, the continuation of the infamous Jeddah safety car streak.
With championship points on the line, tensions were already high between front-row starters Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen. Verstappen initially held the lead from pole, but a five-second time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage on the first lap turned the tide. Piastri pounced with a perfectly executed undercut, pitting earlier than Max and rejoining ahead. From there, he never looked back — controlling the pace to secure his third win of the season and take the lead in the Drivers’ Championship with 99 points.
Verstappen was visibly frustrated after the race, keeping a low profile both on the podium and in interviews. Still, driving what many believe to be the fourth fastest car on the grid, he delivered an outstanding performance that earned him Driver of the Day.
Charles Leclerc brought home Ferrari’s first podium of the season with a strong drive to P3. After a shaky start to the year, it was a much-needed boost for the Scuderia — and a welcome return to champagne celebrations in red.
Lando Norris had a mountain to climb starting P10 on the hard compound tyres, but the strategy paid off. With most of the grid opting for mediums, Norris found the pace and confidence he’d been missing in qualifying. By the final laps, he was locked in a tight battle with Leclerc for third. Though he didn’t reach the podium, it was a gritty, impressive drive — and despite narrowly losing the championship lead to his teammate, Lando remained upbeat, already focused on what’s next.
Further down the field, Williams continued their impressive resurgence. Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon secured a strong double points finish in P8 and P9, working together to hold off rookie Isack Hadjar in the closing stages. Their efforts pushed Williams up to fifth in the Constructors’ standings — a remarkable turnaround for the team.
With the dust now settled in Jeddah, teams and drivers will take a much-needed breather during the two-week break before heading to Miami. The title fight is officially on, the midfield is tighter than ever, and momentum is shifting with every race. If the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is anything to go by, this season is just getting started.
Chloe Thompson
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