STORYLINES EXCITING US AHEAD OF THE WEEKEND
Jeddah
IT'S
RACE
WEEK!
MCLAREN
Norris seeking a response to Piastri’s showing
It was a weekend of two halves at McLaren in Bahrain, with Oscar Piastri enjoying an extremely productive three days, securing pole position and taking a comfortable victory to close to within three points of the lead in the Drivers’ Championship.
On the other side of the garage, however, Lando Norris was struggling far more. Norris acknowledged that he was finding it particularly difficult to deliver the performance he needed during Qualifying, as he wasn’t clicking with the car over one lap.
Norris says he has a lot of work to do to analyse why he has been unable to get comfortable in this year’s McLaren, and with Piastri now boasting two victories to the championship leader’s one, it is becoming ever-more important that Norris finds answers quickly before his team mate potentially overtakes him in the standings.
red bull
Which version of Red Bull will we get?
One week on from Max Verstappen’s excellent victory in Japan, there was a very different feeling within Red Bull on Sunday as the defending champion struggled to sixth place in a car that was uncompetitive throughout the weekend.
Verstappen only qualified seventh amid brake issues, and then the race exposed Red Bull’s weaknesses when it comes to car balance, that have an impact on tyre management and ultimately race pace. There were also a number of problems in the pit lane, with the driver signal lights not working during the race, and a slow stop for Verstappen due to a stuck tyre for good measure.
It was the sort of weekend that shows just what a great job Verstappen has been doing to stay in title contention at this early stage, but also highlights how severe the Red Bull problems can be if the team are unable to get the car in a good set-up window. On a very different track, it’s a chance to reset, but there are no guarantees of a return to Suzuka form.
FERRARI
Hamilton making progress at Ferrari
The seven-time World Champion has called it an “alien” feeling to be driving a very different car at Ferrari than he was used to at Mercedes for the 12 years prior, and he has been trying to understand what his new car needs from him in terms of his driving style.
After finishing fifth in Bahrain, Lewis Hamilton said he felt he had made strides behind the wheel, particularly during the middle stint of the race when he described himself as “aligned” with what the car required.
Hamilton called it arguably the most valuable weekend of the season so far based on what he had learned in Bahrain, with the example being set by Charles Leclerc in terms of set-up directions also proving helpful. But saying it is one thing, and actually putting those lessons into practice, and seeing results, is another, so Hamilton will be targeting further confirmation that he’s on the right path this weekend.
TEAMS battle
All 10 F1 teams on the board
Speaking of being on the right path, it’s clear we’re set for a remarkably competitive season behind the top four teams, too, after Alpine became the final one to score points this year.
Pierre Gasly’s strong weekend in Bahrain yielded a seventh-place finish and moved Alpine level on points with Sauber and into ninth place in the Constructors’ Championship, just 14 points behind Haas who now sit fifth.
That position for Haas was helped by a double-points finish of their own in Bahrain – their second such result in three races – but Williams are just a point behind.
The competitive picture between all six teams fighting for points has ebbed and flowed significantly already this year, largely due to the fine margins that there are between them. A particularly favourable track layout or a well-executed strategy can promote a team firmly up into the points, while the opposite can see them struggling to escape Q1.
QUICK CIRCUIT
Saudi Arabia a very different test to Bahrain
The first triple-header of the season ends with a stark contrast between two circuits, as the big braking zones and highly-abrasive track surface in Bahrain is replaced by one of the most spectacular layouts of the season in Jeddah.
The Jeddah Corniche Circuit is a thrill ride for the drivers thanks to its many high-speed corners, rapid changes of direction and long flat-out sections, all while threading their cars through the walls that only accentuate the speed and will punish mistakes.
It’s a much smoother track surface too but one similarity with Bahrain are high temperatures and floodlit running, so teams will be working hard to find a competitive balance during FP2 as it offers the most representative conditions.
McLaren remain favourites thanks to their strong high-speed performance, but they admit Bahrain was likely one of their stronger tracks when it came to their tyre usage advantage. As the swing between Suzuka and Bahrain for some teams showed, there could be an entirely different competitive picture this weekend.
F1 ACADEMY
Farah AlYousef announced as F1 ACADEMY Round 2 Wild Card entry
Saudi driver Farah AlYousef has become the second Wild Card entry for the 2025 F1 ACADEMY season, after the Saudi Motorsport Company, the Promoter of the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, announced she will be competing in Jeddah.
Becoming the series’ eighth Wild Card driver, the 22-year-old will be racing the #4 MUHRA car operated by Hitech TGR.
Alongside racing in the F4 Middle East Championship, she has completed extensive testing at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, including three days of in-season testing in F1 ACADEMY machinery and is also set to represent Saudi Arabia at the FW Nations Cup Finals in Dubai in May.
“I hope my participation inspires young girls across Saudi Arabia to believe in themselves and chase their dreams," Said AlYousef. "The journey hasn’t always been easy, but moments like this remind me why I love racing. I’m ready to give it my all and represent my country with pride."
