The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, while largely a straightforward affair for the front-runners, still provided ample opportunity for drivers to showcase their skill, strategy, and resilience. As the dust settled in Jeddah, some stood out with exceptional performances, while others grappled with the unforgiving nature of the street circuit and the intense competition.

Qualifying the day before played a pivotal role in shaping the final results, a truth many drivers, including Lando Norris, learned firsthand. This analysis delves into each driver’s performance from the race weekend, offering RaceFans’ comprehensive verdict and scores, reflecting their impact on the track during the thrilling spectacle.

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Driver Ratings: Who Shone Brightest in Jeddah?

Welcome to our in-depth driver ratings for the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. From pole position battles to mid-field skirmishes and strategic masterclasses, we break down every driver’s weekend, assessing their qualifying efforts, race craft, and overall contribution to what proved to be a compelling event. Discover who truly maximized their machinery and who left valuable points on the table.

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Lando Norris

Lando Norris began his Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend with considerable promise, topping the timesheets on Friday and demonstrating blistering pace in Q2. His McLaren looked a formidable package, hinting at a strong qualifying performance. However, a significant error in Q3 saw him crash, relegating him to a disappointing 10th on the grid. This mistake proved costly, as his raw speed suggested he could have been much higher.

Despite the setback, Norris showed remarkable recovery drive on race day. He made a good start, gaining two places and quickly dispatched Carlos Sainz early in the race. His battle with Lewis Hamilton was a protracted affair, taking three laps to complete the pass, highlighting the defensive strengths of Hamilton and the difficulty of overtaking on this circuit. He then passed George Russell with less difficulty, showcasing his strong race pace. While he ran out of laps to challenge Charles Leclerc for third, his drive from 10th to 4th was a commendable effort, partially redeeming his qualifying misstep. It’s hard not to wonder what might have been, as a podium finish was certainly within reach had he avoided the Q3 incident.

5/10: Redeemed himself with a strong race performance after a costly qualifying error, but a potential podium slipped away.

Oscar Piastri

Oscar Piastri delivered an exceptional weekend, starting with a sensational qualifying performance where he pushed Max Verstappen to the absolute limit for pole position, with barely anything separating the two. This demonstrated his raw speed and confidence. His strong grid slot set the stage for a spectacular race.

At the start, Piastri unleashed a brilliant getaway, immediately putting Verstappen on the defensive and challenging for the lead. He held his position adeptly, navigating the opening corners under immense pressure. In the first stint, he maintained excellent pace despite being stuck in Verstappen’s turbulent dirty air, managing his tyres and staying within striking distance. A crucial moment came with his swift and decisive pass on Lewis Hamilton, a move that was vital in ensuring he leapfrogged Verstappen during the pit stops. In the final stint, Piastri showed maturity and controlled aggression, expertly measuring his pace to keep Verstappen out of DRS range and secure a well-deserved victory. This was a dominant and intelligent performance from the young Australian.

9/10: A stellar weekend, characterized by standing his ground at the start and executing a critical, well-judged pass on Hamilton, leading to a masterful victory.

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Charles Leclerc

Charles Leclerc showcased his renowned qualifying prowess by extracting every last ounce of performance from his Ferrari SF-25, securing a strong fourth place on the grid, significantly ahead of his teammate. This single-lap brilliance set the tone for a resilient race. He maintained his starting position at the lights, displaying calm and control in the opening skirmishes.

Throughout the Grand Prix, Leclerc demonstrated exceptional tyre management, running an impressively long first stint on the medium compound. This strategy allowed him to stay in contention and positioned him well for the second half of the race. He executed a clean pass on George Russell during his second stint, demonstrating decisive race craft. Crucially, Leclerc then had to fend off a charging Lando Norris in the closing stages for the final podium spot. He managed to keep the McLaren at bay, showcasing strong defensive driving and consistency to secure a hard-fought third place, a testament to his ability to push the car to its absolute limit.

9/10: Delivered a truly impressive performance, wringing every drop of pace from his Ferrari to secure third place, particularly in his battle against Norris.

Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton faced another challenging qualifying session, barely scraping into Q3. The significant gap to his teammate, Charles Leclerc, highlighted a continued struggle to extract ultimate one-lap pace, and he was fortunate to only start three places behind. Interestingly, his best time in Q2 was faster than his Q3 effort, suggesting he couldn’t quite hook up the perfect lap when it mattered most.

In the race, Hamilton made a solid start, gaining one position and quickly getting by Carlos Sainz on the first lap. He then played a crucial role in his team’s strategy by frustrating Lando Norris’s attempts to pass for two laps. This defensive masterclass was highly valuable, allowing his teammate to build a gap. However, his pace seemed to fade in the final stint. Despite closing on Andrea Kimi Antonelli, aided by fresher tyres, he ultimately dropped back towards the end of the race. This demonstrated a struggle with consistent race pace and tyre degradation, leaving him unable to convert his defensive efforts into a stronger finish.

5/10: A disappointing qualifying effort was compounded by race pace that wasn’t quite sufficient to make up for the grid position, ultimately leading to a P7 finish.

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Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen displayed his often irrepressible best in qualifying, utilizing superior Q3 tactics, including a well-timed tow from Yuki Tsunoda, to deliver a superb lap that secured him pole position. His one-lap pace was unmatched, demonstrating his mastery of the Jeddah circuit.

However, race day started with a slight misstep. He didn’t get off the line as cleanly as Oscar Piastri, which cost him the lead into the first corner. In a controversial move, Verstappen swiftly regained the lead by deliberately cutting the first corner, an action that later resulted in a five-second time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage. His subsequent pass on Lewis Hamilton also took longer than Piastri’s, prompting speculation about whether his former adversary was being uncooperative. Despite the penalty and Piastri’s strong drive, Verstappen maintained a formidable pace in the final stint, even in Piastri’s dirty air. While he couldn’t overcome the time penalty to reclaim victory, his overall speed and aggressive driving were undeniable, though his cynical Turn 1 tactics marred an otherwise strong performance.

7/10: Showcased his irrepressible best in qualifying and strong race pace, but his cynical Turn 1 tactics and resulting penalty cost him a potential victory.

Yuki Tsunoda

Yuki Tsunoda’s weekend was a mixed bag, marked by both glimpses of pace and costly errors. He unfortunately crashed in second practice, compromising his preparation. While he reached Q3, his final qualifying lap was nine-tenths of a second slower than Max Verstappen’s, although he did provide Verstappen with a crucial tow. He also managed a faster time in Q2, suggesting he couldn’t replicate his best when it truly counted in the final session.

On race day, his start was disastrous, losing 11 places. His luck, or rather lack thereof, continued as he was involved in a collision with Pierre Gasly on the first lap. He was fortunate to avoid a penalty for this contact, despite appearing more able to avoid the incident than the other driver, a pattern that has emerged in previous races. Ultimately, the damage from the collision led to him not being classified in the final results. This was a weekend where the raw speed was evident at times, but significant errors and incidents overshadowed any potential positive outcomes.

3/10: Despite showing flashes of pace, his Q3 lap was poor, and he was involved in two significant incidents, ultimately leading to a DNF.

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Andrea Kimi Antonelli

Andrea Kimi Antonelli showed glimpses of his immense potential throughout the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend. In qualifying, he had the pace for fourth on the grid but made a small error early on his final lap, which cost him that coveted position, ultimately slotting into fifth. This highlights his raw speed, even as he continues to refine his one-lap consistency.

At the start of the race, Antonelli made a wise decision not to force the issue with Charles Leclerc into Turn 1, opting for a clean start. He ran consistently in fifth place throughout the opening stint, demonstrating good race management. After his pit stop, he fell to sixth as Lando Norris, recovering from his qualifying setback, managed to get ahead. In the final stint, Antonelli showcased impressive tyre management and better pace than his teammate, George Russell. This ability to handle the tyres effectively in race conditions speaks volumes about his understanding and adaptability, proving he is quickly getting to grips with Formula 1 machinery.

7/10: Still refining his qualifying craft, but demonstrated excellent race management and tyre preservation, outperforming his teammate in the crucial final stint.

George Russell

George Russell continued his strong qualifying form by securing an impressive third place on the grid, once again demonstrating his ability to extract maximum performance from his Mercedes over a single lap. However, he later rued not completing two runs in Q3, a decision that might have allowed him to challenge higher up. He held his starting position well at the beginning of the race, maintaining a solid presence among the front-runners.

In the opening stint, Russell found it challenging to match the pace of the leading duo, Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri, and gradually fell back. Unfortunately, his race pace did not improve in the second stint, allowing both Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris to overtake him. A more concerning issue emerged towards the end of the race, where his pace faded badly, losing over a second per lap to his teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli. This significant drop-off suggested difficulties with tyre degradation or car balance, ultimately costing him positions and a stronger finish. While his qualifying performance was stellar, his race unravelled as the laps wore on.

7/10: Another top-tier qualifying performance, but a concerning fade in race pace, particularly towards the end, cost him dearly.

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Lance Stroll

Lance Stroll’s qualifying session saw very little separating him from his Aston Martin teammate, though he ultimately bowed out in Q1, highlighting a continued struggle to consistently extract the maximum from the car on a single lap. He did make a decent start to the race, gaining two positions.

He embarked on an unconventional strategy, running the longest opening stint of anyone on the hard compound tyres. This decision aimed to gain track position later in the race, but its effectiveness was limited. Stroll demonstrated clever race craft by effectively utilizing blue flags to overtake Gabriel Bortoleto, showcasing situational awareness. However, the ultimate outcome was disappointing, as he ended up being lapped, a fate his teammate avoided. The performance gap between him and Fernando Alonso throughout the weekend was more typical of what has been seen in recent seasons, with Alonso consistently having the edge.

5/10: A relatively anonymous weekend where the performance gap to Alonso was evident, and a long first stint on hards yielded little reward.

Fernando Alonso

Fernando Alonso once again showcased his immense talent in qualifying, being one of the few drivers to perfectly string together all three of his best sectors, which is a significant achievement on the challenging Jeddah circuit. This meticulous approach secured him a respectable 13th on the grid, three places ahead of his teammate.

He made an excellent start to the race, beating Liam Lawson off the line and gaining three positions. However, he surprisingly lost a place to Isack Hadjar’s Racing Bulls on the lap after the restart, a moment that would have frustrated the usually combative Spaniard. Despite this, Alonso demonstrated his experience and quick thinking by taking decisive evasive action to prevent a collision with Gabriel Bortoleto, highlighting his acute awareness on track. Ultimately, despite a strong qualifying and a solid start, the Aston Martin package wasn’t quite potent enough to challenge for points, leaving him just outside the top ten. The loss of position to Hadjar was a rare unforced error in his race craft.

6/10: Left nothing on the table in qualifying, but a surprising loss of position to Hadjar marred an otherwise solid performance that ultimately fell short of the points.

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Jack Doohan

Jack Doohan’s weekend got off to a difficult start as he was reprimanded twice for crossing the painted area between the pit entry and the track during practice, indicating a need for greater precision. In qualifying, he was three-tenths of a second off Pierre Gasly’s pace in Q1, which meant he exited early. This significant deficit to his teammate set the stage for a challenging race strategy.

Starting from 17th, Doohan made his first pit stop on the opening lap, signaling a ‘hail Mary’ strategy to gain an advantage. He navigated the middle part of the race but began to lose places in the second half. He was the only driver to make a second pit stop, a tactical decision made once it became clear he was under threat from Gabriel Bortoleto. This fresh set of tyres paid off on the final lap, as he utilized them to catch Bortoleto and win a drag race to the finishing line, securing 17th position. While the qualifying deficit was concerning, his late-race fightback showed tenacity.

5/10: A considerable qualifying deficit to Gasly forced him into a risky ‘hail Mary’ strategy, which he salvaged with a late-race charge.

Pierre Gasly

Pierre Gasly showed strong pace throughout the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend, particularly in qualifying where he significantly outpaced his teammate. However, his Q3 session was impacted by strategic issues following a red flag. He aimed to complete two flying laps but had to abandon his first, then was held in his pit box, which meant he did not have the correct tyre temperatures for his final, crucial lap. As a result, his Q3 time was 0.342s slower than what he had managed in Q2, indicating that a potentially much higher grid position slipped through his fingers.

On race day, Gasly’s strong start was abruptly cut short. He was in the process of making a move on Yuki Tsunoda on the very first lap when he was unfortunately hit by his rival, forcing him to retire from the race. This was a stroke of bad luck, as he had clearly shown the pace to contend for points. His qualifying situation suggests he could have even started ahead of Tsunoda, potentially avoiding the incident altogether. A frustrating end to a weekend that promised much more.

7/10: Unlucky to be taken out by Tsunoda on the first lap, but his Q3 issues highlight a missed opportunity for an even stronger starting position.

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Esteban Ocon

Esteban Ocon openly admitted that he struggled throughout the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend, particularly evident in qualifying where he was half a second adrift of his teammate in Q1. This significant gap resulted in a disappointing 19th place on the grid, placing him immediately on the back foot for the race.

Despite the poor qualifying, Ocon made a reasonable start, gaining two places. He was one of only three drivers who pitted on the first lap, a risky strategy that often compromises race distance. However, Ocon managed to successfully complete the full race distance, which was an achievement in itself given the early pit stop. Towards the end of the race, he dutifully let Oliver Bearman past when instructed by the team, demonstrating good team play. Ultimately, his race performance was hampered by a fundamental lack of pace compared to his teammate, preventing him from making significant progress up the order.

5/10: A challenging weekend where he openly struggled for pace, particularly compared to his teammate, though he did complete the race distance.

Oliver Bearman

Oliver Bearman delivered a workmanlike performance throughout the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend, notably beating his teammate to progress into Q2, showcasing his ability to extract more from the Haas on a single lap. Interestingly, he set a faster time in Q1 than in Q2 by over a tenth of a second, indicating he couldn’t quite capitalize on his new set of tyres in the second part of qualifying, which prevented further progress.

On race day, Bearman made a decent start, gaining two positions. However, a recurring issue throughout the race was his pace fading towards the end of both his medium and hard stints. This suggests a struggle with tyre management or the car’s inherent balance over a full race distance. Despite this, he managed to finish ahead of his teammate, securing 13th place. While it wasn’t a spectacular performance, it was a solid and consistent effort in a car that was clearly not among the quickest on the grid, maximizing what was available to him.

6/10: A workmanlike performance, leading the way for Haas in qualifying and finishing ahead of his teammate, despite pace fading in the latter stages of stints.

Isack Hadjar

Isack Hadjar admitted to struggling throughout the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend, a sentiment reflected in his qualifying performance where he dropped out in Q2 after clipping the wall. This minor incident highlighted the fine margins on the demanding street circuit and put him two places behind his teammate on the grid.

However, Hadjar’s race performance was a significant redemption. He made an excellent start, getting ahead of his teammate and gaining three positions. The highlight of his race was an exceptional pass on Fernando Alonso after the restart, executed without the aid of DRS. This brave and skillful move was critical and likely earned him a crucial point at the end of the race. He finished the Grand Prix stuck in a ‘DRS train’ behind the co-operating Williams drivers, a common occurrence in mid-field battles, demonstrating his ability to maintain position under pressure. His race craft and daring overtake truly made up for his disappointing qualifying.

7/10: Made a remarkable recovery from a disappointing qualifying, delivering an excellent race performance highlighted by a crucial pass on Alonso to secure a point.

Liam Lawson

Liam Lawson also received a reprimand for twice crossing the pit entry line during practice, indicating a need for stricter adherence to track limits. In qualifying, he showed strong one-lap pace, being one of the few drivers to string together all three of his best sectors, which helped him secure 12th place, two positions ahead of his teammate. This demonstrated his raw speed and ability to maximize the car.

However, his race start was less impressive. He was beaten off the line by Fernando Alonso and then lost another place to Isack Hadjar after running off the track. A crucial mistake came when he failed to make the corner after passing Jack Doohan, an error that resulted in a ten-second time penalty. This penalty severely compromised his race, negating any gains he might have made. Despite these setbacks, there wasn’t much to choose between the two Racing Bulls on pure race pace. It was a weekend that highlighted his qualifying potential but also his propensity for costly race errors and penalties, which ultimately overshadowed his speed.

6/10: Showcased impressive one-lap speed in qualifying but wasted his advantage on lap one and incurred a penalty for an illegal overtake, hindering his race.

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Alexander Albon

Alexander Albon had a closely matched qualifying performance with his teammate, Carlos Sainz Jnr, showcasing the strong potential of the Williams package. He qualified 11th, and the dissatisfaction over his Q2 exit was understandable, as a slightly later spot in the running order might have been enough to propel him into Q3. Despite missing out on the final session, he demonstrated solid one-lap speed.

In the race, Albon made a good start, gaining two places. He then rebounded strongly from his qualifying disappointment. He played a crucial team role by cooperating with Sainz to keep Isack Hadjar behind, utilizing smart DRS tactics. This strategic teamwork, which they had originally planned to use on Pierre Gasly, proved highly effective in maximizing Williams’ points haul. Albon’s ability to recover and contribute significantly to the team’s strategy underscored his value and race craft, securing a respectable 9th place finish.

7/10: His frustration over missing Q3 was justified, but he delivered a strong rebound in the race, playing a vital team role and contributing to Williams’ points.

Carlos Sainz Jnr

Carlos Sainz Jnr delivered an exceptionally clever qualifying performance, being the only driver besides Max Verstappen to successfully complete two timed laps after the red flag in Q3. This strategic mastery, combined with his pace, allowed him to beat both Lewis Hamilton and Yuki Tsunoda, securing an excellent sixth place on the grid, five positions ahead of his teammate. His execution of the Q3 tactics was superb.

In the race, Sainz had a solid start, losing just one place. He demonstrated a more measured approach than in Bahrain, choosing his battles wisely and avoiding unnecessary risks. A key highlight of his race was his team play: he actively aided his teammate, Alexander Albon, with DRS. This crucial collaboration helped maximize Williams’ points haul by creating a defensive line against chasing cars. Sainz’s ability to combine individual speed with intelligent team strategy was exemplary, ultimately earning him 8th place and contributing significantly to the team’s strong result.

8/10: Masterfully employed the same Q3 tactics as Verstappen to secure a strong grid position, then played a superb team role in the race to maximize Williams’ points.

Nico Hulkenberg

Nico Hulkenberg’s qualifying session was marred by a critical mistake at Turn 1, which potentially cost him a place in Q2. Despite this error, he still managed to qualify two places ahead of his teammate, demonstrating that there was underlying pace in the Sauber. He started the race well, gaining three positions on the opening lap, including getting ahead of Jack Doohan.

Throughout the Grand Prix, Hulkenberg proved quick enough to out-run Lance Stroll, maintaining a respectable gap to the Aston Martin. However, the Sauber package simply lacked the raw performance to challenge the cars further ahead. He plugged away consistently but found himself unable to make significant inroads into the midfield, highlighting the limitations of his machinery on this particular circuit. While he made a small error in qualifying, his race performance was solid given the car’s capabilities.

6/10: Showed decent pace and made up places at the start, but the Sauber lacked the outright performance to fight higher up, despite his strong effort.

Gabriel Bortoleto

Gabriel Bortoleto endured a weekend plagued by misfortune and learning experiences at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. His preparations were severely compromised by a technical fault that forced him to miss the single most representative practice session, undoubtedly putting him on the back foot. His poor luck continued into qualifying, where he picked up a plastic bag, further hindering his efforts and contributing to his 20th place start, two positions behind his teammate.

During the race, Bortoleto made a good start, gaining two places. However, he experienced a hair-raising moment early on when he attempted to use Max Verstappen for a slipstream but underestimated his speed at Turn 1, resulting in a spin. This was a clear learning moment for the rookie on the complexities of F1 racing. He also followed team orders to let Nico Hulkenberg through. In the closing stages, he plugged away on fading tyres, battling hard but ultimately powerless to keep a hard-charging Jack Doohan behind him on the final lap. Despite the challenges, he completed the race, gaining valuable experience on a difficult circuit.

5/10: A weekend marred by bad luck in practice and qualifying, culminating in a hair-raising moment with Verstappen and a tough battle on fading tyres.

Over to you

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2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Insights

• Red Bull made tactical decision not to avoid a penalty in Jeddah, Horner confirms
• Norris’s starts were far poorer than Verstappen’s but the balance is shifting
• McLaren’s rivals “just one upgrade away from being the lead car” – Brown
• Russell told race control what he thought of Verstappen’s first lap corner cut
• Doohan’s final corner pass on Bortoleto was F1’s closest fight for last place in seven years

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