2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Qualifying Review: Verstappen Steals Pole in Thrilling Session
The Jeddah Corniche Circuit delivered another electrifying qualifying session under the floodlights, with Max Verstappen clinching pole position by a razor-thin margin of 0.010s over McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. The session was marred by a dramatic crash for Lando Norris, while Mercedes and Ferrari showcased improved pace. Below, we break down the key moments, team performances, and driver ratings (out of 10) .
Session Overview
- Weather: Warm (track temp ~38°C), cooler than practice sessions.
- Key Takeaways:
- Verstappen’s pole was unexpected after Red Bull’s struggles in practice.
- Norris’ Q3 crash ruined McLaren’s front-row lockout hopes.
- Mercedes’ George Russell and rookie Kimi Antonelli impressed (P3 and P5).
- Lewis Hamilton (P7) outqualified Charles Leclerc (P4) in their new teams.
Q1: Verstappen Sets the Tone, Stroll and Alpine Struggle
The opening segment saw Verstappen top the timesheets (1:27.778), but the spotlight was on the eliminations:
- Shock Exit: Lance Stroll (Aston Martin, P16) – Outqualified by teammate Alonso (P13) again.
- Rating: 4/10 – Lacked pace in critical moments.
- Alpine’s Woes: Jack Doohan (P17) and Pierre Gasly (nearly eliminated but scraped through) struggled with balance.
- Doohan: 5/10 – Outperformed by Gasly but still off the pace.
- Haas and Sauber: Esteban Ocon (P19) and Gabriel Bortoleto (P20, spun) were non-factors.
- Bortoleto: 3/10 – Costly error on final lap .
Eliminated (P16–P20): Stroll, Doohan, Nico Hülkenberg, Ocon, Bortoleto.
Q2: Norris Shines, Hamilton Escapes
McLaren’s Lando Norris set the fastest time (1:27.481), but the drama centered on the midfield battle:
- Alex Albon (Williams, P11) – Missed Q3 by 0.007s to Hamilton.
- Rating: 7/10 – Strong effort, unlucky margin.
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin, P13) – Outpaced by Albon and Lawson.
- Rating: 5/10 – Anonymous session.
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls, P12) – Penalized for unsafe release but showed promise.
- Rating: 6/10 – Mixed day .
Eliminated (P11–P15): Albon, Lawson, Alonso, Isack Hadjar, Ollie Bearman.
Q3: Verstappen’s Masterclass vs. Norris’ Heartbreak
The final segment was defined by two stories:
- Norris’ Crash: The McLaren driver clipped the Turn 5 curb, spinning into the wall.
- Rating: 5/10 – Costly mistake but unharmed.
- Verstappen’s Precision: Opting for two flying laps post-red flag, he nailed a 1:27.294 to pip Piastri.
- Rating: 10/10 – Flawless under pressure .
Top 10 Grid :
- Verstappen (Red Bull) – 10/10
- Piastri (McLaren) – 9.5/10 (Near-perfect lap)
- Russell (Mercedes) – 9/10 (Strong recovery)
- Leclerc (Ferrari) – 8/10 (Solid but lacked edge)
- Antonelli (Mercedes) – 8.5/10 (Rookie star)
- Carlos Sainz (Williams) – 7.5/10 (Best Williams qualifier)
- Hamilton (Ferrari) – 7/10 (Adapting to new team)
- Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) – 6.5/10 (Messy Q3 lap)
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – 6/10 (Survived Q1 scare)
- Norris (McLaren) – 5/10 (No Q3 time)
Team-by-Team Analysis
Red Bull
- Verstappen’s pole was a tactical triumph (two-lap strategy).
- Tsunoda (P8) struggled with consistency.
- Team Rating: 9/10 – Maximized result despite practice struggles .
McLaren
- Piastri’s P2 highlighted their pace, but Norris’ crash was a setback.
- Team Rating: 8/10 – Quick but costly error .
Mercedes
- Russell (P3) and Antonelli (P5) proved the W16’s qualifying pace.
- Team Rating: 8.5/10 – Best Saturday of 2025 .
Ferrari
- Leclerc (P4) edged Hamilton (P7), showing SF-25’s one-lap speed.
- Team Rating: 7.5/10 – Room for improvement .
Williams
- Sainz (P6) and Albon (P11) continued their upward trend.
- Team Rating: 7/10 – Q3 appearance a success .
Driver Ratings Summary
| Driver | Team | Rating | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verstappen | Red Bull | 10/10 | Pole with flawless execution |
| Piastri | McLaren | 9.5/10 | Missed pole by 0.010s |
| Russell | Mercedes | 9/10 | Best Mercedes qualifier |
| Antonelli | Mercedes | 8.5/10 | Star rookie performance |
| Leclerc | Ferrari | 8/10 | Solid but not spectacular |
| Sainz | Williams | 7.5/10 | Strong in new team |
| Hamilton | Ferrari | 7/10 | Still adapting |
| Tsunoda | Red Bull | 6.5/10 | Messy Q3 |
| Gasly | Alpine | 6/10 | Survived Q1 scare |
| Norris | McLaren | 5/10 | Crash ruined Q3 |
Conclusion
Verstappen’s pole was a testament to Red Bull’s adaptability, while McLaren and Mercedes proved they’re genuine threats. The race promised fireworks, with Piastri starting alongside Verstappen and Norris charging from P10. Ferrari and Williams also showed encouraging signs, setting up a thrilling Grand Prix .
Key Quote:
“I definitely didn’t expect pole… the car came alive in the night.” – Max Verstappen .
For full results and highlights, visit Formula 1’s official report .