F1 heads to Jeddah for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit after an impressive win by McLaren's Oscar Piastri in Bahrain.
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Sunday 20 April 2025 – 19:00
Jeddah Corniche Circuit
The F1 field makes the short jaunt from Bahrain to Saudi Arabia this week, with the teams descending on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit for the fifth race of the campaign.
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix | Sunday 21 April | Jeddah Corniche Circuit
We saw our first double race winner of the season crowned this past weekend with Oscar Piastri a deserved victor out in Bahrain. McLaren will be looking for their fourth victory of 2025 this coming Sunday but Max Verstappen and Red Bull will be eager to stifle their early season form.
Darry Worthington gives his verdict on whether he thinks the McLarens will continue to dominate as he runs the rule over the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
To Win Race Outright:
Lando Norris 5/4 | Oscar Piastri 27/20 | Max Verstappen 10/1 | George Russell 11/1 | Charles LeClerc 14/1 | Lewis Hamilton 20/1 | Andrea Kimi Antonelli 50/1
Previous Race – Bahrain
While we may not have refueling, pit stops are coming into play in a major way this season, with Max Verstappen and Lando Norris nearly having a collision coming out of the pit lane in Japan.
Perhaps Red Bull were wary of an early release, but most likely, electrical gremlins were at play with the red light taking ages to go out while Verstappen was ready to exit the pit lane.
This didn’t just happen once but twice and it effectively curtailed his chances of claiming a podium berth as he had to settle for sixth place.
Ocasr Piastri, meanwhile, had a far smoother race with his only real hurdles to tackle being a near collision with George Russell in the early salvos of the race, while a safety car cut down his substantial lead, but he was able to pull away from the field upon release.
The McLaren man would remain pretty much unchallenged as he took his second win of the season. George Russell would follow him across the line, with the ‘Brit taking full advantage of Lando Norris’ DRS issues.
Despite Norris struggling with DRS, and having been hit with a penalty for not lining up on the grid correctly, he still managed to claim the last podium berth and help extend McLaren’s big lead at the top of the Constructors’.
While Norris’ respectful podium finish was great for his team and all, he did ruin my value bet for Bahrain as he edged out Charles LeClerc to the final podium berth, with the Ferrari man bringing his Prancing Stag across the line just over three seconds behind the McLaren man.
Lewis Hamilton ensured a decent points return as he ended the race sandwiched between his teammate and Max Verstappen’s Red Bull.
Speaking of the Red Bulls, Yuki Tsunoda delivered an improved performance from his dismal showing on home soil as he claimed ninth place.
Things were even better for Pierre Gasly, who claimed Alpine’s first points of the season by claiming seventh ahead of the Haas of Esteban Ocon, who benefited from an early pit. Further points were gained for Haas, with Oliver Bearman finishing in tenth.
From every angle 😮💨
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 14, 2025
An incredible move by Lando Norris to reclaim his place on the podium 🥉#F1 #BahrainGP pic.twitter.com/O5PLxAS1Te
Track – Jeddah Corniche Circuit
This will be the fifth race staged at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, and while the track is still in its infancy on the F1 calendar, it has become one of the more popular venues as it is one of the fastest street circuits on show.
It is the second longest track the drivers race on this season, coming in at a whopping 6.175 kilometres, which leaves it just 800 metres short of the conic Spa.
The drivers will be confronted with 50 of these grueling laps, which feature 27 turns; eleven right-handers and sixteen left-handers. Turn 13 could be the corner to keep an eye on as it looks by far the most challenging.
Red Bull have been the dominant force at the Jeddah Circuit with Sergio Perez winning in 2022 and Verstappen taking race honours here in 2023 and last year. Prior to Red Bull’s three wins, Mercedes found success at the track winning the inaugural race in 2021 with current Ferrari man Lewis Hamilton taking the win four years ago.
As noted earlier, Verstappen took the win last year with the Dutch ace joined on the podium by his former teammate Sergio Perez and Ferrari number one Charles LeClerc.
In terms of the weather forecast for Saturday, as is customary in Suai, we’re not expecting any rain, but drivers will need to contend with temperatures in excess of 30 degrees throughout the weekend.
Value Bet
Charles LeClerc – Podium Finish – Yes 2/1
I backed him to get the job done last week, and he nearly delivered. I’m going to back him to get across the line this time around as well.
The Ferrari man was third on the podium in Saudi last season and claimed second in 2022. It’s a track he likes, and I reckon there’s a bit of value here.
To Win Race Outright
Oscar Piastri – 27/20
I got it severely wrong last week – or did the Red Bull pit crew get it wrong – as I forecast a Verstappen victory in Bahrain.
It’s pretty clear that the McLarens have the better race speed at this point, and you simply cannot ignore them this weekend.
I reckon Piastri will make it three wins from five starts out in Saudi. He claimed fourth here last year and is in a far better car this time around.
