ARTICLE AD BOX
The championship leader branded himself a “f*****g idiot” on the radio after hitting the kerbs at turns four and five and crashing into the wall during his first run in Q3.
His session was over and Verstappen, Oscar Piastri and George Russell were left to slug it out for pole, with the Dutchman banishing pre-race talk over his future with another scintillating qualifying performance.
Russell will line up third for Mercedes after another fine display, ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Lewis Hamilton’s disappointing qualifying form continued as he could manage only seventh.
When is the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix?
Time BST
Sunday 20 April
Kieran Jackson20 April 2025 14:40
Alex Albon, who starts P11:
“Honestly, Yuki and Lewis are in our race. We’re trying to beat Alpine, we can still race those top teams.
“Track temps are hot, engine and tyre cooling will be important. Spending too many laps behind cars and you’ll overheat.”
Kieran Jackson20 April 2025 17:48
McLaren boss Zak Brown, speaking on the grid:
“Oscar will definitely take it to Max, it’s a long race. Coming out P2 in turn one is not a bad thing, we’ve got a good race car underneath.”
On Norris starting in P10: “Podium is not out of reach.”
Kieran Jackson20 April 2025 17:42
Oscar Piastri, who starts P2:
“The best place would be turn 1 but it’s a short run, we’ll see, our car will be quick, we’ll have opportunities later in the race too.
“I think the Red Bull and Max look quick, tyre deg seems to be one of our strengths at the moment, I think they found a lot from Friday to Saturday - I’m not expecting them to be slow but hopefully we’ve got the edge.”
Half-an-hour until lights out in Jeddah!
All the drivers just finishing their reconissance laps out in the Jeddah Corniche Circuit ahead of the fifth race of the 2025 season!
Among the stars on the grid today are Usher, Riyad Mahrez and Roberto Firmino!
Kieran Jackson20 April 2025 17:30
PHOTOS: Drivers paraded ahead of lights out!
Kieran Jackson20 April 2025 17:24
Charles Leclerc on the first four races of the season:
“It’s not the start of the season we dreamed of,” Leclerc tells Sky F1.
“We’re missing grip in low and medium speed. I would’ve expected us to be stronger here than the first part of the season. Lewis has been giving his view on certain situations, we have different approaches, but that’s the same for everyone in the paddock.”
“I think the podium in Bahrain was definitely possible. [This week], I like street tracks in general, maybe one of my favourite tracks of the season.”
Kieran Jackson20 April 2025 17:17
Lewis Hamilton is finding his Ferrari F1 car ‘very difficult’ after Saudi GP qualifying
“It was challenging as always, qualifying for me,” Hamilton reflected afterwards. The 40-year-old has not qualified in the top three so far in 2025, aside from his sprint race win in China.
“I’ve been nowhere all weekend, 13th in almost every session.
“I feel grateful to have got to Q3. P7, not a spectacular last lap, we make improvements all weekend, needed a better lap at the end there.
“It’s been trying to find the time and bond with this car on a single lap, it’s something I’m finding very difficult at the moment.”
Kieran Jackson20 April 2025 17:08
F1 driver standings after four races
4. George Russell – 63 points
5. Charles Leclerc – 35 points
6. Kimi Antonelli – 30 points
8. Alex Albon – 18 points
9. Esteban Ocon – 14 points
10. Lance Stroll – 10 points
11. Pierre Gasly – 6 points
12. Nico Hulkenberg – 6 points
13. Ollie Bearman – 6 points
14. Isack Hadjar – 4 points
16. Carlos Sainz – 1 point
17. Liam Lawson – 0 points
18. Jack Doohan – 0 points
19. Gabriel Bortoleto – 0 points
20. Fernando Alonso – 0 points
Kieran Jackson20 April 2025 17:00
George Russell, ahead of the Saudi GP:
“I feel like since last year, I’ve been performing at a good level.
“We have to fight for the podium at a minimum, all the action will happen around the pit-stops. We don’t know if it will be a two-stop, between lap 10 and 20 we will see the most action.”
Kieran Jackson20 April 2025 16:51
English (US) ·