Official 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Thread ***SPOILERS***

[Piginapoke]

Already we’re in Saudi for the third leg of a triple header after a great show from Oscar and George in Bahrain, and a very public wobble from Lando. With soft tyres and a fast circuit this should be a clear win for McLaren and a straight fight between its drivers.

Interesting to see if Red Bull can get the car dialled in (I suspect not) and if Ferrari can make any progress with their new-for-Bahrain floor.

Norris will have had a week to think about Bahrain and he's a mercurial driver- I think he’ll just pip Oscar here.

Here’s to a great race.

Date(s): Friday 18 April to Sunday 20 April 2025.

UK Broadcast Timings (and track time)

All sessions are live on Sky F1. Channel 4 is showing highlights of Qualifying and the Race.





2024 Highlights: (Red Bull 1-2)

https://youtu.be/OJ56MAGFPGM?si=qi-V77DeYlzcK-3a

Tyres:

Softest compounds C3-C5



2024 Result:

Edited by Piginapoke on Tuesday 15th April 20:19

[White-Noise]

Good man piap, thanks for all the detailed info.

As I was just writing on another thread it has to be Oscar for me. I hope Lando does it but I'm losing faith in him and it's not nice to see him struggling.

[Piginapoke]

White-Noise said:

Good man piap, thanks for all the detailed info.

As I was just writing on another thread it has to be Oscar for me. I hope Lando does it but I'm losing faith in him and it's not nice to see him struggling.

I think he’ll bounce back, but the next few races are critical for him

[paulguitar]

Thanks, as always, Mr Poke.


This is a circuit that makes me nervous. I'm always relieved when they pack and leave after this one. Here's hoping for a safe weekend for everyone.

[kambites]

I think Norris really needs to win this one, not so much for the points as for his self-confidence. I have absolutely no idea whether he'll manage though.

[TheDeuce]

kambites said:

I think Norris really needs to win this one, not so much for the points as for his self-confidence. I have absolutely no idea whether he'll manage though.

I'm also not entirely expecting he will get it done.. but I totally agree he needs to. I know it's early days it's plainly going to have an impact on him if he loses his points advantage to his team mate.

Whichever way it goes, it's good for all of us at least

[TheDeuce]

paulguitar said:

Thanks, as always, Mr Poke.


This is a circuit that makes me nervous. I'm always relieved when they pack and leave after this one. Here's hoping for a safe weekend for everyone.

I'm afraid you're stuck it with for quite some time: https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/whats-going-on-...

Possibly forever, qiddiya keeps getting delayed by a year, every year...

[595Heaven]

This triple header has kept you busy PiaP! Thank you!

Hopefully Norris gets back on form

[Piginapoke]

595Heaven said:

This triple header has kept you busy PiaP! Thank you!

Hopefully Norris gets back on form

It really has!

[Jasandjules]

We are not 90% of the way through the season, so let's see. IF Piastri just continues to take wins whilst Lando is second/third for the next 15 races then fair enough.... But right now? No.

[TheDeuce]

Jasandjules said:

We are not 90% of the way through the season, so let's see. IF Piastri just continues to take wins whilst Lando is second/third for the next 15 races then fair enough.... But right now? No.

No what?

No he's not a serious threat? Or no we shouldn't be clogging up this thread with debating what we think might play out

[TheDeuce]

Piginapoke said:

595Heaven said:

This triple header has kept you busy PiaP! Thank you!

Hopefully Norris gets back on form

It really has!

There were less races each season when you took this gig

Cheers though!

[Jasandjules]

TheDeuce said:

Jasandjules said:

We are not 90% of the way through the season, so let's see. IF Piastri just continues to take wins whilst Lando is second/third for the next 15 races then fair enough.... But right now? No.

No what?

No he's not a serious threat? Or no we shouldn't be clogging up this thread with debating what we think might play out

No it is not the time to write off Lando. Don't get me wrong, I suspect Oscar will have it covered in any event BUT still....... Plenty of time to go yet so too early to write him off.

[Nova Gyna]

paulguitar said:

Thanks, as always, Mr Poke.


This is a circuit that makes me nervous. I'm always relieved when they pack and leave after this one. Here's hoping for a safe weekend for everyone.

Totally agree with this. Jeddah’s a proper monster - so quick, walls, and that section through the esses is just asking for a huge one. Seen a few incidents through there that genuinely made me wince.

Bearman produced heroics for me last year, dropped in last minute and brought it home in the points like he’d been in that Ferrari all season.

[TheDeuce]

Jasandjules said:

TheDeuce said:

Jasandjules said:

We are not 90% of the way through the season, so let's see. IF Piastri just continues to take wins whilst Lando is second/third for the next 15 races then fair enough.... But right now? No.

No what?

No he's not a serious threat? Or no we shouldn't be clogging up this thread with debating what we think might play out

No it is not the time to write off Lando. Don't get me wrong, I suspect Oscar will have it covered in any event BUT still....... Plenty of time to go yet so too early to write him off.

That's what I mean, who wrote off Lando? I think you're basically saying exactly the same as everyone else...

[BrettMRC]

I've gone for George....no idea why, just a feeling!

[TVR Sagaris]

I think this one is Piastri's, but Verstappen and Russell will go well too.

1. Piastri
2. Verstappen
3. Norris
4. Russell
5. Leclerc
6. Hamiton
7. Antonelli
8. Albon
9. Tsunoda
10. Sainz

[Mr Tidy]

Well I've cast my vote now.

Surprised to see Piastri with 51% at the moment even though I contributed to that!

[TheDeuce]

Mr Tidy said:

Well I've cast my vote now.

Surprised to see Piastri with 51% at the moment even though I contributed to that!

I'm not surprised, clearly a lot of us can see exciting potential.

Having said that, all this positivity might jinx his weekend

[HocusPocus]

Thanks PiaP!

I wonder whether Helmet will say more about RBR's Max implosion if the team have another meh weekend. We witnessed in Japan how good Max is, but will he stay?

On current form it is between the McLaren cars.