Isack Hadjar of France and Visa Cash App Racing Bulls, Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing, and Fernando Alonso of Spain and Aston Martin F1 Team look on during the Drivers Press Conference during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on April 17, 2025 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images
This weekend’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is the final leg here of the first ‘triple header’ of the season.
AFP Sport looks at some talking points ahead of the fifth round of the 24-race season:
Advantage McLaren
Oscar Piastri put in a faultless display from pole last Sunday in Sakhir to make it three wins out of four for the British marque.
That moved the cool as ice Australian to within three points of championship leader and teammate Lando Norris, who took third in Bahrain.
With Max Verstappen, only sixth, and Red Bull struggling to keep tabs on the world constructors’ champions, the 2025 title could well develop into a battle between the two McLaren men.
The team has always been insistent on ‘papaya rules’, meaning no favouritism between the pair, but that even-handed policy will be put under pressure if the season develops into a battle between the two gifted drivers.
Red Bull to bounce back?
Red Bull’s problems in Bahrain were well documented, and it will be desperate to bounce back on one of its favourite hunting grounds, with Verstappen winning in Jeddah in 2022 and 2024.
The circuit
Sunday’s race presents a radically different test for car and driver than last week in Bahrain. The fastest street circuit on the calendar offers multiple chances for overtaking, in stark contrast to the most famous street circuit of them all, Monaco.
With a record 27 corners and three DRS (drag reduction system) zones it can be counted on to serve up plenty of drama, with the walled sides leaving little room for error.
All the ingredients then for a thrilling race under floodlights on Jeddah’s Corniche.
Published – April 18, 2025 02:07 am IST
