F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2025 Qualifying Recap: Classy Verstappen takes a record-breaking pole in Jeddah

Red Bull driver puts in a record-breaking lap

Reigning world champion Max Verstappen broke the lap record at Jeddah to take pole position at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2025 qualifying session while McLaren had a bittersweet run with Oscar Piastri finishing behind Verstappen while Lando Norris crashed out in Q3.

Here’s a quick recap of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2025 qualifying session.

Q1 – Double whammy for Sauber, Stroll’s struggles continue

Qualifying kicked off with an intra-team battle between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri at the top of the time-sheets with Piastri going 0.007s quicker than Norris’ opening time of 1:28.026s which set the benchmark. Max Verstappen’s first run could only manage him a third, being 0.122s behind Norris. While the McLarens, Red Bulls and Mercedeses remained on top, it was Ferrari in a spot of bother towards the end of the session. Leclerc managed to go through at P13 while Hamilton went to P9 from P15 to see both Prancing Horses through to the next session.

As the chequered flag fell, it was Lance Stroll exiting once again in Q1 while the Alpine of Jack Doohan, the two Saubers of Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto and Haas’ Esteban Ocon also failed to get out of Q1. Stroll also set an unwarranted record following his Q1 exit, becoming the driver with the most number of Q1 exits in the history of Formula One with the Canadian exiting in Q1 75 times.

Drivers eliminated in Q1

Lance Stroll
Jack Doohan
Nico Hülkenberg
Esteban Ocon 
Gabriel Bortoleto

Q2 – Tsunoda survives, Albon outqualified by teammate again

Oscar Piastri’s first flying lap saw him steal the top spot from George Russell but it was Max Verstappen’s 1:27.529s that set the benchmark early on. Lando Norris made sure it was McLaren on top as his second run saw him put in a time of 1:27.481s, going 0.048s clear of the reigning world champion. As the cars got out for their final laps, it was Pierre Gasly, Oliver Bearman, Isack Hadjar, Liam Lawson and Fernando Alonso floating around in the drop zone. 

Lawson found some pace to just get out of the drop zone, dropping Hamilton in the drop zone but the seven-time world champion managed to push himself out, dropping VCARB’s Lawson back in the relegation zone while a stunning final lap from Yuki Tsunoda saw himself get into the top 10 shoot-out at the expense of Alex Albon. Fernando Alonso, Oliver Bearman and Isack Hadjar failed to get out of Q2 also. 

Drivers eliminated in Q2 –

Alex Albon
Liam Lawson
Fernando Alonso
Isack Hadjar
Oliver Bearman

Q3 – Verstappen steals pole as Norris crashes out

The McLaren duo were the first to hit the ground running in the final qualifying session with Piastri putting in a 1:27.560s but it was an instant red flag as his teammate Norris went into the wall to halt the session and end his qualifying. 

As racing resumed, it was Max Verstappen putting in a time of 1:27.559s, going 0.001 second quicker than Piastri to take provisional pole but it was Russell pipping Verstappen and Piastri, going 0.152s quicker than Verstappen to sit with pole. The three kept on exchanging positions as Piastri went on top with a 1:27.304s and he was dislodged again as Verstappen went even faster with a fantastic final lap to go P1 with a 1.27.294s that broke the lap-record at Jeddah.

Starting Grid for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2025 (before any penalties)

1. Max Verstappen
2. Oscar Piastri
3. George Russell 
4. Charles Leclerc
5. Kimi Antonelli
6. Carlos Sainz
7. Lewis Hamilton
8. Yuki Tsunoda
9. Pierre Gasly
10. Lando Norris
11. Alex Albon
12. Liam Lawson
13. Fernando Alonso
14. Isack Hadjar
15. Oliver Bearman
16. Lance Stroll
17. Jack Doohan
18. Nico Hülkenberg
19. Esteban Ocon 
20. Gabriel Bortoleto