The 2025 Formula 1 season roared into the Middle East for Round 3, as the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix lit up the streets of Jeddah. Under the night sky at the Corniche Circuit, the action was immediate and unrelenting, with controversy, collisions, and penalties shaping what has already become one of the most dramatic races of the season.
A Pole to Remember: Verstappen vs Piastri
Max Verstappen clinched a razor-thin pole position on Saturday night, edging out Oscar Piastri by a mere 0.010s in a thrilling qualifying session that saw Lando Norris crash out in Q3. With the starting grid locked in, Verstappen took pole ahead of Piastri, George Russell, and Charles Leclerc.
Carlos Sainz impressed for Williams in sixth, just ahead of Lewis Hamilton, who continues adjusting to life in Ferrari red. Yuki Tsunoda grabbed eighth, Pierre Gasly ninth, and Norris—without a Q3 time—rounded out the top ten.
Race Day Drama: Verstappen’s Shortcut Costs Him
The drama kicked off immediately at lights out. Verstappen got a poor launch and cut Turn 1 to retain the lead, forcing Race Control to take a closer look. Just a few laps later, the verdict came in: a five-second time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.
Despite the penalty, Verstappen wasted no time pulling away and building a buffer over Piastri, who was left in no man’s land between the Red Bull up front and the chasing Mercedes of George Russell.
Safety Car, Contact, and Early Exits
A chaotic Lap 1 saw a collision between Yuki Tsunoda and Pierre Gasly in Turn 5. The result? Gasly was out, Tsunoda limped on with damage—and eventually retired after Red Bull confirmed he couldn’t continue. If Tsunoda is blamed for the crash, he may face a grid penalty in Miami.
Meanwhile, several drivers took advantage of the safety car period to pit early for hard tyres. Jack Doohan, Esteban Ocon, and Gabriel Bortoleto were among those hoping to one-stop their way to a points finish.
Norris on the Charge
Despite his qualifying crash, Lando Norris looked lively on race day. Starting 10th and running hard tyres when most were on mediums, he played the long game and methodically worked his way up the order. He made easy work of Carlos Sainz on Lap 6 and began closing in on Lewis Hamilton.
Hamilton himself had dispatched Sainz a lap earlier, climbing into sixth as he continues finding his rhythm at Ferrari.
Midfield Mayhem: Antonelli vs Leclerc
One of the more intriguing on-track battles came from teenage sensation Kimi Antonelli, who pushed Leclerc hard for fourth. Ferrari looked to be struggling compared to Mercedes, and Antonelli’s persistence proved that Leclerc wasn’t cruising by any means.
Strategy Roulette: What Will Stick?
Heading into the race, nobody quite knew if the Jeddah race would be a one-stopper or a two-stopper. The hard tyre hadn’t been thoroughly tested during practice, adding a layer of unpredictability. Verstappen hinted at Red Bull’s plan to lean on the mediums, despite concerns about consistency.
McLaren’s Mixed Bag
Oscar Piastri, starting P2, looked composed and hopeful before the race. He acknowledged Verstappen would be tough to beat but believed McLaren’s tyre management could give them the edge later in the race.
Norris, meanwhile, remained upbeat despite his crash the day before, saying, “I’m excited to hopefully put on a good race today and have a bit of fun.” His performance suggested that optimism wasn’t misplaced.
Ferrari’s Uncertain Gamble
Both Leclerc and Hamilton started in strong positions—P4 and P7 respectively—but questions lingered about their race pace. Ferrari needed a big haul of points, but would the strategy and pace deliver?
Williams’ Rise Continues
Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon both qualified inside the top 11, showing that Williams’ early-season form is no fluke. Albon believed they could challenge the likes of Alpine and even Ferrari, provided they stayed out of trouble. “If Carlos can hold Lewis off, he’s in our race,” said the Thai-Brit driver before lights out.
What’s Next?
As the race unfolds, all eyes are on whether Verstappen can hold on to the win despite the penalty, and whether Piastri or Russell can capitalize. Will Norris complete his comeback? Can Ferrari finally get their strategy right?
Stay tuned as we bring you live coverage and analysis from the F1 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Leave a Reply