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Fast corners and fierce rivals: what awaits at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2025

The Formula 1 calendar closes its first triple-header from April 18 to 20 with the much-anticipated Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2025.

Por: Alejandro Carrillo April 18, 2025

The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2025 marks the fifth round of the season and takes place at a track where securing pole position often translates into a race win. With such a tightly matched grid this year, fans can expect a thrilling and high-stakes weekend in Jeddah.

Back in 2024, Max Verstappen dominated by clinching pole and going on to claim the victory, followed closely on the podium by Sergio Pérez and Charles Leclerc. Historically, only Red Bull and Mercedes have tasted victory on this circuit, raising the possibility that a new team could finally break through during this edition of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2025.

The Jeddah Corniche Circuit ranks among the fastest in the Formula 1 calendar, boasting an average speed of around 250 km/h — significantly quicker than Silverstone, and second only to Monza. Not only is it the fastest street circuit, but it also features the highest number of corners in F1, with 27 in total.

Jeddah under the lights

These sweeping and rapid turns make the track one of the most technically demanding for drivers, who must thread the needle between speed and precision with walls constantly looming at the edge of their line.

Adding to the challenge, this race takes place under the night sky to avoid the intense daytime heat typical of the region. The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2025 promises edge-of-your-seat action, and much of the spotlight will be on McLaren. Lando Norris still leads the championship standings, but if he hopes to maintain his position, he must outperform his teammate, Oscar Piastri, especially here in Jeddah.

There’s a brewing battle within McLaren itself. After an underwhelming outing in Bahrain — where Norris admitted to discomfort with his car setup — Piastri capitalized on his teammate’s misfortunes, taking a convincing win from pole while Norris had to settle for third place. With Piastri now one victory ahead in the tally, Norris acknowledged post-race that there’s much to refine if he hopes to stay in contention.

Heat, speed, and high stakes

While Red Bull and Mercedes have owned this circuit in previous seasons, all eyes are now on McLaren to possibly shift that narrative. As for the Austrian team, fans are curious to see the form of Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda heading into the weekend, and whether they can reassert Red Bull’s dominance.

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The field is more competitive than ever — all 10 teams have scored points just four races into the season. With the gaps between teams razor-thin, a flawless performance at this technical circuit could propel a team to glory, while a single misstep could cost everything in a race where qualifying performance often determines the outcome.

Key information

When will the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2025 take place? From April 18 to April 20, 2025.
Who won the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in 2024? Max Verstappen won from pole position.
Which teams have previously won in Jeddah? Only Red Bull and Mercedes have won there so far.
What challenge does the Jeddah Corniche Circuit present? It's the fastest street track with 27 technical corners and little margin for error.