Formula 1 2025 Saudi Arabia GP Preview

We hoped, we waited, and boy did Bahrain 2025 deliver! It was the most exciting race of the season so far. Overtakes were going on left and right, plenty of penalties were given, and in almost every single lap, we had some TV-worthy action in one or more parts of the track. Oscar Piastri delivered a commanding win and now trails the championship leader, his teammate, by only 3 points.

Formula 1 heads to Jeddah for the FORMULA 1 STC SAUDI ARABIAN GRAND PRIX 2025 on April 20th. We can expect heart-pounding action once again since Jeddah’s Street circuit is both one of the fastest and most perilous. Crashes, safety cars and even red flags are in play whenever 20 F1 cars hit the road. Let’s see how things stack up before the 5th GP of the year. 

Saudi Arabian, Jeddah GP 2025 | Schedule

This is the Schedule for the F1 2025 Saudi Arabian GP. All times are UK.

• FP1 – 2.30 pm, Friday
• FP2 – 6.00 pm, Friday
• FP3 – 2.30 pm, Saturday
• Qualifying – 6.00 pm, Saturday
• Saudi Arabia Grand Prix – 6.00 pm, Sunday

In the UK, Sky Sports is the official broadcaster of F1. You can also watch it worldwide via F1TV. 

3 Biggest Storylines Before the Saudi Arabian GP

What’s Going on in Red Bull?

Even Max Verstappen couldn’t perform one of his many miracles in normal conditions, and the team barely managed to take home 10 points. That’s not nearly enough for a team that always states their goal of competing for both 2025 titles.

After what can only be described as an ‘abysmal’ (keeping in mind their recent successes) showing from #1 and #22 cars, a frustrated Max Verstappen and his agent were noticed giving Red Bull’s advisor, Helmut Marko a piece of their minds. Also, in an interview with Viaplay in Dutch, the 4-time defending world champion said he is in no mood to talk to his team.

Even though Yuki Tsunoda kept a positive spirit and allowed Red Bull to score points with both cars for the first time since Las Vegas 2024, finishing 6th and 9th definitely isn’t what the Milton Keynes outfit wants to achieve. If results can’t improve soon, Max Verstappen might exercise his exit clause this offseason. With so much internal turmoil, it becomes more and more likely with each passing week. 

Who’s the ‘Best of the Rest’?

RB, Haas, Alpine and Williams are all battling for supremacy amongst the Best of the Rest. It’s very hard to predict which teams might end up on top, as their form can drastically vary from track to track.

• RB – strategy fails in the first few races have taken away a good chunk of points from the Faenza-based team. Even though Isack Hadjar and now Liam Lawson have good raw pace, the car seems better in sub-optimal racing conditions. In Bahrain, both youngsters were nowhere near the points; thus, they fell out of the picture a little bit but remain in contention.
• Haas – after pre-season testing, Haas was labelled as one of the two slowest teams. After the first 4 Grand Prix, however, they are in 5th and seemingly have much more to give. Ayao Komatsu has constructed a very competitive duo from already veteran Esteban Ocon and a very intriguing Ferrari academy upstart, Ollie Bearman. Both regained many places in the Bahrain GP and finished in the points. Haas definitely raised a few eyebrows this past Sunday.
• Alpine – harmed by misfortunes in the first few races, Alpine seemed to have it all dialed in during the Sakhir GP. Pierre Gasly was flying, while Jack Doohan had decent chances at the points. Most resource-rich team from this list may improve as the year progresses.
• Williams – as it stands right now, Williams is likely the best car of these four. However, Carlos Sainz has been inconsistent and failed to convert his drives into points in all except one race. If the Spaniard managed to leave his misfortunes behind, Williams could move further ahead. 

Can Mercedes or Ferrari Finally Challenge the Frontrunners?

George Russell has been ready to capitalise on the shortcomings of his rivals. The Mercedes driver converted 3 race drives into podiums out of the 5 total Grand Prix, which is a fantastic achievement. It has allowed the Brit to remain within striking distance of the three frontrunners.

Kimi Antonelli, on the other hand, has shown tremendous pace, and as the season goes on, the young Italian could also become a threat.

On Scuderia Ferrari’s side, Bahrain can be seen as a slight turning point. Charles Leclerc was great all race, holding up Lando Norris almost until the bitter end. After the checkered flag was waved, the Monegasque finished 4th, with his teammate crossing the line right behind in 5th. 

With Ferrari bringing a solid floor upgrade to Bahrain and Mercedes constantly pouring enormous resources into team performance, we may see them gaining on their main rival – McLaren, as the year goes on. 

Saudi Arabian GP | Track & History

The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix held at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, debuted in 2021. And what a debut it was. Max Verstappen had one of the most amazing ‘What if?’ moments and crashed during qualifying. The race saw more fireworks with the non-stop fighting between championship leaders Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, culminating in a collision between the two.  

Designed by Carsten Tilke, the Jeddah street circuit stretches along the Red Sea coast. It has a high count of 27 corners and super-high average speeds of around 155 mph, making it the fastest street circuit in F1 history and one of the fastest on the calendar. 

Last year, for the 2024 race, Max Verstappen secured victory from pole position, marking his 56th career win and 100th podium finish. Max’s teammate Sergio Pérez finished 2nd, with Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc completing the podium in 3rd. 

Jeddah has plenty of challenges and significant risks around every corner. High-speed turn 13 tests your bravery as well as precision, while the sequence between turns 22 and 27 can force many mistakes. You have to be on the limit for every second if you want good lap time around the Corniche circuit. 

Recap of the Last Racing Weekend | Bahrain GP

Oscar Piastri won his second race of the year and closed in on his teammate and championship rival, Lando Norris. With only 3 points separating them, it seems like Piastri is in better form as of now. 

Lando Norris got a 5-second penalty and made many unforced errors that stopped him from climbing higher than 3rd in the final order. Mercedes finished 2nd with George Russell while Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton got 4th and 5th for Ferrari.

Max Verstappen ended up a distant 6th, with the highlight of his race being the pass on Alpine’s Pierre Gasly in the race’s closing stages. The latter, along with Esteban Ocon (Haas), were the two most surprising finishers in the points. 

Yuki Tsunoda and Ollie Bearman (who started P20) finished the list of point scorers, leaving the likes of Kimi Antonelli and Alex Albon without any takeaways. It was a disappointment for Aston Martin, who were nowhere in the fight and Sauber since Nico Hulkenberg was disqualified post-race.

Standings Before the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

Here are the current F1 standings for 2025 before the Saudi GP.

Driver Standings

Constructor Standings

Fans hope that the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix can continue the excitement shown in Bahrain. If you want, read more items on our blog for expert insights into F1. Our betting platform, here at 7bet, also covers multiple motorsports events. Check them out if you’re interested!

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