#F1 STC #SaudiArabianGP 2025 Preview.
Formula 1 STC Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024 Race Start, Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Image credit to Mark Thompson/Getty Images. 2025 Saudi Arabian GP Preview, F1 Jeddah GP Preview, F1 Saudi Arabian GP Preview, Saudi Arabian GP Preview, Formula 1 Saudi Arabia Preview.
2025 Saudi Arabian GP Preview – After Oscar Piastri took McLaren’s first victory under the bright lights of Bahrain and his second consecutive win of the season, round five of the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship heads to the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on the streets of Jeddah, Hejaz, Saudi Arabia this weekend for the Formula 1 STC Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2025. This will be the fifth running of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. This is also the last race of the first triple header of the 2025 campaign with Japan and Bahrain.
2025 Saudi Arabian GP Preview – A Look At The Jeddah Corniche Circuit
The Jeddah Corniche Circuit is a temporary street circuit (albeit with some permanent sections) located on the Corniche, a 30-kilometre coastal resort area of the ancient Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah, Hejaz, Saudi Arabia. The circuit is being built adjoined to the Red Sea and the track was designed by Carsten Tilke, son of circuit designer Hermann Tilke.
The Jeddah Corniche Circuit is described as “The fastest street track” on the Formula One calendar with the cars simulated hit average speeds in excess of 250kph (160mph), with the track being the second longest circuit on the F1 schedule, with the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps being the longest.
The circuit runs in an anti-clockwise direction and is 6.174km (3.836 miles) in length with 27 corners.
The race distance is 308.450 kilometres (191.662 miles) with 50 laps in total.
The fastest lap of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit is currently held by seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, the Briton posted a 1:30.734 at the 2021 inaugural event in his Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team F1 W12 EQ Performance entry.
Reigning world champion Max Verstappen has won the event twice, whilst Sir Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Perez have each won the event once.
2025 Saudi Arabian GP Preview – Onboard Pole Lap of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit
Here is the onboard pole position lap of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit last year’s event, set by Max Verstappen in his Oracle Red Bull Racing-Honda-RBPT RB20 racer. The reigning world champion posted a 1:27.472. You can watch the footage right here at the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z65Eh6-rCJo
2025 Saudi Arabian GP Preview – Tyres
Pirelli will be bringing with them to Jeddah, the C3 white side-walled Hard compounds, the C4 yellow-marked Medium tyres and the C5 red-branded Soft rubber. F1’s sole tyre supplier will also take along the green-branded Intermediates and the blue-branded Wet tyres in case of rain.
All drivers will have eight sets of the C5 softs, three sets of the C4 mediums and two of the C3 hards.
2025 Saudi Arabian GP Preview – DRS Zones
There will be three DRS zones at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit with the first DRS detection point just after turn 17 before with the initial activation zone between turns 20-22. The second detection point is positioned right where the first activation zone ends with the second DRS zone just before the turn 25 left-hander to the final corner. The final detection zone is just before the last corner turn 27 with the final DRS activation point on the main-straight into turn one.
2025 Saudi Arabian GP Preview – Pitlane Speed Limits
Pitlane speeds will be 80km/h during practice, qualifying and the race.
ICYMI – Piastri storms to Bahrain GP victory by 15.499s
Oscar Piastri lead from start to finish to take a solid victory at the Bahrain GP in-front of the McLaren team’s owners by 15.499 seconds over Mercedes’ George Russell as Lando Norris rounded out the top three in the other MCL39 entry.
The victory sees Piastri only three points off World Driver’s Championship-leading team-mate Norris with it sitting 77 (Norris) – 74 (Piastri) as McLaren’s lead over Mercedes in the Constructor’s Championship increased to 58 points (191 McLaren – 93 Mercedes).
When the 57 lap Bahrain GP began, pole-sitter Piastri gets a solid start and same George Russell behind them as the latter and Charles Leclerc ran wheel-to-wheel into turn one.
Russell suffered a lock up into the first corner and managed to jump in-front of Leclerc into second place.
Also Norris made a charging start from sixth to fly past Leclerc to go right into third place.
On the beginning of the second tour, Piastri held a 0.842 second gap to Russell with Norris third, the medium starting Leclerc in fourth, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly fifth, Williams’ Carlos Sainz sixth, Mercedes’ Antonelli seventh, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen eighth, Ferrari’s Sir Lewis Hamilton ninth as the other RB21 entry of Yuki Tsunoda rounded out the top ten runners.
Further behind, Haas’s Oliver Bearman after a dreadful qualifying wounding up at the rear, was up five places into 15th.
The race stewards noted a potential false start from Norris for not being on the correct grid slot.
By the third tour, race leader Piastri was already out of DRS range to Russell’s Silver Arrow with the lead up to 1.382 seconds meanwhile behind them, Gasly was keeping up with Ferrari’s fourth-placed Leclerc.
In P9 Ferrari’s Hamilton reported already about a lack of grip as Mercedes’ Antonelli made a move around the inside of Sainz into the turn one right hand hairpin to move up into fifth place.
Verstappen likewise pulled a great move also on Sainz’s FW47 racer to jump into sixth through trn six.
Norris’s was officially under investigation for being out of position on the grid slot by the race stewards as replays shown it would most definitely be a slam dunk penalty.
Meanwhile Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar was the first to box from 16th for a set of the C2 yellow-marked mediums.
McLaren’s Norris was hit with a five second timed penalty for the false start – out of position on the grid slot.
Meanwhile on the ninth tour, in the battle for eighth Sainz and Hamilton ran wheel-to-wheel through the turns five, six and seven sequence, but the former kept the Ferrari driver behind until they reached the back straight and with DRS assistance, Hamilton swept around the outside of Sainz into the turn 11 left-hander.
On the 10th lap, Piastri held a 3.322 second lead over Russell with Norris third, Leclerc fourth, Antonelli fifth, Gasly sixth, Verstappen seventh, Hamilton eighth, Tsunoda ninth as Sainz rounded out the top ten.
Norris came in to serve his five second time penalty and also put on his fresh set of mediums as also Gasly and Verstappen as all three came out in 14th, 15th and 17th in the order respectively.
On the 12th lap, Tsunoda boxed for his fresh set of mediums and slotted in 19th behind Hadjar.
Replays showed a slow stop for Verstappen whilst out-front Piastri’s lead over Russell increased to 3.951 seconds with Leclerc third as Antonelli pitted for his C2’s and emerged in 15th place behind Verstappen who set the fastest tour.
On the 14th tour, second place Russell stopped for his fresh set of medium rubber and came out in seventh place behind Bearman’s VF-25 racer.
Race leader Piastri was told to box on lap 16 relinquishing the lead to the medium starter Leclerc and Hamilton who makes it a one-two for the Scuderia for now.
Piastri slotted in third as Sainz and Bearman pitted for their C2’s as both drivers emerged in 16th and 17th respectively.
Race leader Leclerc was told by his team to run Plan B whilst the Monegasque driver said he wanted to stick with the delta.
The order on the 17th lap was Leclerc 10.015 seconds over Hamilton with both Ferrari’s yet-to-pit, Piastri third, Albon who was running fourth boxed for his mediums to free Russell into fourth, Norris in fifth, Gasly sixth, Haas’s Esteban Ocon seventh, Verstappen eighth with Antonelli close behind in ninth whilst Alpine’s Jack Doohan rounded out the top ten.
Meanwhile lap 18, Ferrari both double-stacked Leclerc and Hamilton for another fresh set of mediums to which the former wanted to remain out – both drivers came out in fifth and eleventh respectively.
Leclerc made short work of Gasly to move up into fourth as further behind his team-mate Hamilton overtook Tsunoda to jump back into the points.
On the 20th tour, Piastri’s lead was at 3.391 seconds over Russell with Norris third, Leclerc fourth, Gasly fifth, Ocon sixth as Antonelli passed reigning world champion Verstappen for seventh making the move stick through the turns four, five and six sequence.
On the 21st lap, in the fight for ninth, Hamilton had a look at Doohan’s A525 with DRS on the back straight heading towards the turn 11 left-hander but could not make it past.
Until they returned on the main straight and with DRS once more, Hamilton made a late lunge on the inside of Doohan into turn one to go up into ninth place.
Then the Briton with DRS assistance, breezed past Verstappen to go up into eighth place as the latter reported that he could not brake anymore, it’s ridiculous.
Further up front, fourth-placed Leclerc on much fresher mediums, was closing in on third-placed Norris and was into DRS range as they reached the pit-straight.
With DRS, Leclerc made a late move into turn one but ran way too deep as Norris got back into third place and kept his position.
Leclerc was once again having a look at Norris into turn one but could not get by as Hamilton made his way in-front of Antonelli into seventh place with a great move into the opening turn.
Leclerc at the same exact time overtook Norris around the outside into the turn four right hander to go back into third place.
A lap later, Hamilton also made short work of Ocon with the same overtake like on Antonelli jumps up into sixth place.
With 30 tours remaining, Piastri’s lead over Russell was at 6.044 seconds with Leclerc closely behind the Mercedes in third, Norris fourth, Gasly fifth as Hamilton completed the top six.
Verstappen pitted from ninth and suffered a front-right issue and came out on his fresh set of C2’s all the way at the back of the pack.
Meanwhile Antonelli and Ocon came in with the former a set of softs and the latter on a set of the white-branded C1 hards. Both drivers came out in the squabble of Hadjar and Stroll as they quickly cleared the duo.
Gasly boxed for a set of hards after running fifth and was down in tenth place behind Bearman.
On lap 31, Piastri’s gap to Russell was at 6.717 seconds with Leclerc a further 1.456 seconds off in third, Norris fourth, Hamilton fifth, Sainz sixth, Tsunoda seventh, Albon eighth, Bearman ninth as Gasly rounded out the top ten runners.
Meanwhile in the fight for sixth, Tsunoda on the inside was battling with Sainz, but he slid wide and collides side-ships with the FW47. Some carbon fibre flies up and is on the track, so punctures were a risk at this stage of proceedings.
On the 32nd lap the safety car was deployed due to the scattered debris on track as race leader Piastri boxed immediately for a fresh set of mediums as the majority all came in for fresh sets of tyres.
Second-placed Russell bolted on a set of used C3 softs in an attempt to attack Piastri who was on the C2’s. Both Leclerc and Hamilton were on the C1 harder compounds whilst Norris was on a set of C3 mediums like his race leading team-mate.
The order of the top ten behind the safety car was Piastri, Russell, Leclerc, Norris, Hamilton, Gasly, Ocon, Verstappen, Doohan and Sainz.
When the safety car came in on lap 36, race leader Piastri, got the jump at the final corner keep Russell behind, meanwhile Norris ran wheel-to-wheel with Leclerc in the fight for third as Hamilton swept around the outside of Norris into turn one to move up into fourth.
Out of the exit of turn four Norris ran wide into the run-off and reclaimed fourth place from Hamilton.
Norris was ordered to give the place back to Hamilton after leaving the track and gaining an advantage to overtake Hamilton’s SF-25 and done so.
Meanwhile on the 38th lap, with DRS on the rundown into turn four, Norris made a lunge on the outside of Hamilton to get back up into fourth place as further back Verstappen moved up into sixth place overtaking Ocon on the inside into the opening corner right-hander.
On lap 41, Piastri’s lead over Russell was at 1.7 seconds with Leclerc third, Norris fourth as Hamilton completed the top five.
Further back a train was forming between Gasly, Verstappen, Ocon, Doohan, Tsunoda, Bearman and Antonelli in the fight for the bottom six points places of the top ten.
On the 44th lap, fourth-placed Norris was in DRS range of Leclerc as he started to close in on the Ferrari for the final podium place.
Meanwhile, Sainz was given a 10-second-timed penalty for forcing another driver off the track as on the 46th lap Norris with DRS assistance on the main-straight attempted to overtake Leclerc into turn one but the McLaren driver suffered a massive lock-up into turn one after running too deep.
Williams told Sainz to box and retire the car after suffering damage with a big hole in the right side of the side-pod in the battle with Tsunoda.
With ten laps remaining, Piastri’s lead was at 4.992 seconds over Russell with Leclerc third, Norris right behind the Ferrari in fourth, Hamilton in the other SF-25 entry in fifth.
The battle for third was intensifying as Norris tried to go around the outside of Leclerc into turn four right hander, but the McLaren driver ran out of room as he was squeezed off-track and could not get by.
On the 51st tour, Norris was tucked right behind the Ferrari once again and with DRS on the back straight on the rundown to the sweeping turn 11 left-hander the Briton was even closer to the SF-25.
Leclerc once again on lap 52, covered the McLaren into turn one, but with DRS on the run to turn four Norris made a move around the outside of Leclerc and in the middle of the corner planted the throttle and the McLaren driver was into the final podium place.
Russell’s Mercedes hit major trouble as he complained over the radio about his gears and also was noted for a DRS infringement by the race stewards.
Third-placed Norris was given a black-and-white flag for exceeding track limits and was on his third and final warning.
In the battle for second place, Norris was now within DRS range of Russell with three tours remaining and on the rundown to the turn 11 right hander.
Norris had a look on the inside into turn one, but Russell covered the McLaren with no issue.
With DRS around the outside into the opening corner on the last lap, Norris tried to get around Russell as both drivers banged wheels out of the exit of the turn, but Russell managed to keep the McLaren at bay.
Piastri crossed the line to take victory at the Bahrain GP by 15.499 seconds over Russell as Norris completed the final points place.
Russell DRS infringement is currently being investigated by the race stewards and could end up fourth place if he gets hit with a five-grid-placed penalty.
Both Ferrari’s of Leclerc and Hamilton finished fourth and fifth respectively as Verstappen pipped Gasly for sixth.
Ocon and Bearman rounded out the points places for Haas in eighth and tenth as Tsunoda split the pairing in ninth.
The other Mercedes of Antonelli finished outside the top ten in 11th place and in-front of Williams’ Alexander Albon who was 12th and Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg who placed 13th.
Racing Bulls’ Hadjar took 14th as Alpine’s Doohan reached the chequered flag 15th.
Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso followed in 16th as Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson who was hit with a penalty finished 17th.
The second Aston Martin AMR25 entry of Lance Stroll and Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto brought up the rear.
The aforementioned Sainz was the sole retiree of the Grand Prix.
2025 Saudi Arabian GP Preview – The Situation
The F1 circus completes it’s first triple header of the 2025 campaign this weekend in Saudi Arabia.
Oscar Piastri triumph in Sakhir brought the Australian three points off championship-leading McLaren team-mate Lando Norris with Max Verstappen only eight points adrift of the Briton.
Mercedes’ George Russell’s solid effort to withstand the pressure from Norris and hold on to a second-placed finish in Bahrain means the Briton is only 14 points away from the McLaren driver, so things are very tight in the battle for the World Driver’s Championship.
McLaren hold a huge 58-points lead in the World Constructor’s Championship Standings over Mercedes and are expected to be the team to conquer the twisty Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
Ferrari are hoping to have a more competitive weekend from Bahrain to Jeddah, as Sir Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc aim for their first podiums of the season.
Who will come out on top?
Click here for the 2025 Formula 1 World Driver’s (Top 10) and Constructors Championship Standings
The Formula 1 STC Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2025 weekend begins Friday April 18 with Free Practice 1 and 2, followed by Free Practice 3 and the Qualifying Saturday April 19 and the 50-lap Race Sunday April 20.
