Summary

Verstappen takes pole from Piastri, Russell third
Norris hit wall in Q3, causing red flag and will start Grand Prix 10th
Q2: Albon, Lawson, Alonso, Hadjar & Bearman out
Q1: Stroll, Doohan, Hulkenberg, Ocon & Bortoleto eliminated
Norris leads Piastri by three points in drivers' championship
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Live Reporting

Lorraine McKenna

Verstappen claims Saudi GP pole after Norris crashpublished at 20:02 British Summer Time 19 April
Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent
Image source, Getty Images
Championship leader Lando Norris crashed out of qualifying at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and will start 10th as Max Verstappen beat the Briton's McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri to pole position.
Verstappen in his Red Bull pipped Piastri by 0.01 seconds to take his second pole position of the year in scintillating style.
Mercedes' George Russell was third, split from team-mate Andrea Kimi Antonelli by Ferrari's Charles Leclerc.
Norris' crash interrupted the first runs of all his rivals in Q3 apart from Piastri, who laid down a marker just before his team-mate lost control over the kerb at Turn Five and slid sideways into the wall.
Read the full qualifying report here
Join us for race build-up on Sunday from 17:00 BSTpublished at 20:00 British Summer Time 19 April
Image source, Getty Images
Max Verstappen on pole position, Oscar Piastri alongside him and George Russell and Charles Leclerc just behind in third and fourth. Four teams are in with a shout of challenging for victory in Saudi Arabia tomorrow - we hope.
Lando Norris hasn't come out to talk yet, so if we get any quotes from the Briton, we'll pop them in the qualifying report.
Thanks for joining us today, folks. We'll be back on Sunday, Easter Sunday no less, at 17:00 BST for race build-up.
Lights out in Saudi Arabia are at 18:00.
See you tomorrow!
Who wins in Saudi?published at 19:57 British Summer Time 19 April
Image source, Getty Images
McLaren may have the fastest car this season but grabbing pole position for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - like so many races on the calendar these days - was crucial.
There's a high chance of a safety car here, so we could see some drama. But everyone gets off the line cleanly at lights out and the rest of the race remains smooth, who do you think will win?
Left thumb for Max.
Right thumb for Oscar.
F1 Q&A: Send us your questionspublished at 19:55 British Summer Time 19 April
Image source, BBC Sport
The Fan Q&A is open all weekend for your questions. And they don't have to just be about the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix; Andrew Benson is a fountain of knowledge so he can answer any query you have about Formula 1.
Send your thoughts through via the link here.
'There's just nothing in it' - Wolffpublished at 19:53 British Summer Time 19 April
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff spoke to Sky Sports: "We're on the wrong end of the top three, there's just nothing in it. I would rather have P1 and then have a good starting position for the race, but he's [George Russell] done a brilliant job."
Postpublished at 19:51 British Summer Time 19 April
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff tells Sky Sports that realistically, the McLarens were in a league of their own on the long runs, so fighting for a win from P3 for George Russell will be tricky. But never say never. Kimi Antonelli has the microphone now and says he could've done a bit better in qualifying, as he lost a couple of tenths during the session.
'One of the best tracks' - Piastripublished at 19:49 British Summer Time 19 April
Image source, Getty Images
Oscar Piastri gave his thoughts on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit during his post-qualifying interview, explaining how difficult it is to get the maximum out of the car over one lap.
"It's tough around here and once you fall out of rhythm a little bit, it's very hard to get back into it," said the McLaren driver.
"You need to get all the corners right because if you don't get one right, it means you don't get about six in a row right. It's a difficult track, for sure, but at night, with soft tyres, high grip, it's one of the best tracks we go to."
Postpublished at 19:45 British Summer Time 19 April
Lando Norris is back in the paddock with McLaren CEO Zak Brown after his check-up at the medical centre. Tomorrow's race is going to be a tough one for the championship leader starting in P10. His first task will be to clear the Alpine of Pierre Gasly for ninth, before going after the second Red Bull of Yuki Tsunoda, who starts in eighth.
'The car is a little bruised but we will get that fixed' - Brownpublished at 19:41 British Summer Time 19 April
McLaren boss Zak Brown spoke to Sky Sports: "This track favours the brave and all the guys out there at the end were giving it all they've got."
On Lando Norris' crash: "He said he was fine on the radio, the car is a little bruised but we will get that fixed and go again tomorrow."
Rapid Verstappenpublished at 19:38 British Summer Time 19 April
Max Verstappen's 2025 pole position time of 1:27.294 is a new track record in Jeddah.
Image source, Getty Images
'Still all to play for' - Piastripublished at 19:35 British Summer Time 19 April
Image source, Getty Images
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who will start on the front row in P2: "To be honest, I was pretty happy with it. It wasn't too much more left in that lap. Happy with the job I did. We were playing catch-up a little bit through the first part of qualifying and then that last lap felt more and less like the best I could've done.
"I think Max has done a good job. It's another high-speed circuit for [Red Bull], where they seem to be having a little bit more success - but a good job again.
"Still all to play for tomorrow. I think our pace is good. It's going to be a tough race, and the tyres are a bit softer than last year, so we'll see if that plays to our advantage.
'Being realistic I think this was probably the maximum today'- Russellpublished at 19:32 British Summer Time 19 April
Image source, Getty Images
Mercedes’ George Russell, who starts third on the grid: "Before the session I would have definitely taken a P3, I saw how close it was, I was really happy with the lap but you always think there might have been a little bit more in there.
"Being realistic I think this was probably the maximum today, we know on these higher speed circuits we probably don’t quite have the pace of the McLarens and obviously Max [Verstappen] did an amazing job again so congratulations to him."
On the session: "It was a tricky session with the red flag in the middle of the session and that one lap at the end was all that counted. It was quite interesting seeing the Red Bull do the two laps, but P3 is a great place to start and it will be a long race tomorrow."
'It’s really satisfying' - Verstappenpublished at 19:28 British Summer Time 19 April
Image source, Getty Images
Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who takes back-to-back pole positions in Saudi Arabia: "I’m very happy. I didn’t expect to be on pole here after FP3 and looking at how the week was, but the car came alive in the night and we made some final changes and it was a lot more enjoyable to drive.
"The grip was coming to me and around here the qualifying lap is extremely difficult because of all the walls and you need to try and nail it.
"It’s really satisfying to be here in first in qualifying and it's the best position for tomorrow even though I think in the race it will be tough to keep them behind, but we’re going to give it a good go."
On fancying his chances in the race: "We will do our best, so far I’m just very happy that again we had a solid qualifying, much better than in Bahrain, so let’s see what we can do."
'Verstappen is bulletproof in that Red Bull'published at 19:24 British Summer Time 19 April
Sam Bird
Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
Max Verstappen is not going to give this world championship to McLaren without a fight, he's always there and he doesn't make mistakes. He's bulletproof in that Red Bull.
And the restpublished at 19:21 British Summer Time 19 April
11. Alex Albon (Williams)
12. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
13. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
14. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)
15. Oliver Bearman (Haas)
16. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
17. Jack Doohan (Alpine)
18. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber)
19. Esteban Ocon (Haas)
20. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)
Top 10published at 19:18 British Summer Time 19 April
Image source, Getty Images
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) - 1:27.294
2. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
3. George Russell (Mercedes)
4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
5. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
6. Carlos Sainz (Williams)
7. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
8. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull)
9. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
10. Lando Norris (McLaren)
Postpublished at 19:15 British Summer Time 19 April
Sam Bird
Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
To be that far ahead in sector one takes some doing by Max Verstappen. McLaren will be disappointed with this evening's work.
Verstappen on pole in Saudipublished at 19:14 British Summer Time 19 April
Oscar Piastri misses out on his third pole of the season but will start on the front row alongside Max Verstappen. George Russell is there again, putting his Mercedes in the top three. Charles Leclerc is fourth and the other Silver Arrows of Kimi Antonelli is fifth.
Lewis Hamilton ends his Q3 in seventh.
Chequered flagpublished at 19:12 British Summer Time 19 April
Image source, Getty Images
Max Verstappen will start on pole position for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix!
"Simply lovely," says the four-time world champion. "The car came alive at night."
Verstappen claims polepublished at 19:11 British Summer Time 19 April
Image source, Reuters
Never count out Max Verstappen! The Red Bull driver crosses the line after a perfect lap and takes pole from Oscar Piastri by 0.010 seconds.

2025 Saudi Arabia Grand Prix

3rd Practice

Jeddah Corniche Circuit, 19 April 2025

Rank	Driver	Number	Fastest Lap	Laps
1	Lando Norris McLaren	4	1:27.489	18
2	Oscar Piastri McLaren	81	1:27.513	19
3	George Russell Mercedes	63	1:28.116	17
4	Max Verstappen Red Bull	1	1:28.334	14
5	Charles Leclerc Ferrari	16	1:28.372	21
6	Alexander Albon Williams	23	1:28.389	16
7	Carlos Sainz Jnr Williams	55	1:28.570	15
8	Pierre Gasly Alpine	10	1:28.625	16
9	Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull	22	1:28.670	14
10	Kimi Antonelli Mercedes	12	1:28.679	18
11	Isack Hadjar RB	6	1:28.769	17
12	Lewis Hamilton Ferrari	44	1:28.780	20
13	Liam Lawson RB	30	1:28.861	18
14	Fernando Alonso Aston Martin	14	1:28.888	19
15	Jack Doohan Alpine	7	1:28.898	21
16	Oliver Bearman Haas	87	1:28.989	15
17	Nico Hulkenberg Sauber	27	1:29.220	16
18	Esteban Ocon Haas	31	1:29.336	20
19	Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber	5	1:29.410	24
20	Lance Stroll Aston Martin	18	1:29.478	19

Last updated 19th April 2025 at 15:37

Second Practice

Jeddah Corniche Circuit, 18 April 2025

Rank	Driver	Number	Fastest Lap	Laps
1	Lando Norris McLaren	4	1:28.267	21
2	Oscar Piastri McLaren	81	1:28.430	22
3	Max Verstappen Red Bull	1	1:28.547	23
4	Charles Leclerc Ferrari	16	1:28.749	22
5	Carlos Sainz Jnr Williams	55	1:28.942	24
6	Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull	22	1:28.963	19
7	George Russell Mercedes	63	1:28.973	21
8	Pierre Gasly Alpine	10	1:29.106	22
9	Nico Hulkenberg Sauber	27	1:29.193	21
10	Alexander Albon Williams	23	1:29.220	23
11	Kimi Antonelli Mercedes	12	1:29.242	16
12	Isack Hadjar RB	6	1:29.306	17
13	Lewis Hamilton Ferrari	44	1:29.371	23
14	Liam Lawson RB	30	1:29.488	22
15	Fernando Alonso Aston Martin	14	1:29.662	18
16	Oliver Bearman Haas	87	1:29.754	19
17	Jack Doohan Alpine	7	1:29.912	21
18	Lance Stroll Aston Martin	18	1:30.007	18
19	Esteban Ocon Haas	31	1:30.019	22
not available	Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber	5	not available	not available

Last updated 19th April 2025 at 05:55

First Practice

Jeddah Corniche Circuit, 18 April 2025

Rank	Driver	Number	Fastest Lap	Laps
1	Pierre Gasly Alpine	10	1:29.239	25
2	Lando Norris McLaren	4	1:29.246	25
3	Charles Leclerc Ferrari	16	1:29.309	28
4	Oscar Piastri McLaren	81	1:29.341	25
5	Alexander Albon Williams	23	1:29.606	23
6	George Russell Mercedes	63	1:29.618	21
7	Carlos Sainz Jnr Williams	55	1:29.779	26
8	Lewis Hamilton Ferrari	44	1:29.815	27
9	Max Verstappen Red Bull	1	1:29.818	26
10	Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull	22	1:29.821	26
11	Liam Lawson RB	30	1:29.907	19
12	Nico Hulkenberg Sauber	27	1:29.916	25
13	Kimi Antonelli Mercedes	12	1:29.934	24
14	Fernando Alonso Aston Martin	14	1:29.976	24
15	Isack Hadjar RB	6	1:30.011	15
16	Jack Doohan Alpine	7	1:30.183	25
17	Lance Stroll Aston Martin	18	1:30.583	23
18	Oliver Bearman Haas	87	1:30.595	21
19	Esteban Ocon Haas	31	1:31.029	21
20	Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber	5	1:31.038	23

Last updated 18th April 2025 at 15:38

Qualification

Jeddah Corniche Circuit, 19 April 2025

= Fastest lap

Rank	Driver	Number	Qualifying 1	Qualifying 1	Qualifying 2	Qualifying 2	Qualifying 3	Qualifying 3	Time
1	Max Verstappen Red Bull	1	fastest lap 1:27.778	fastest lap 1:27.778	1:27.529	1:27.529	fastest lap 1:27.294	fastest lap 1:27.294	Qualifying 3, fastest lap 1:27.294
2	Oscar Piastri McLaren	81	1:27.901	1:27.901	1:27.545	1:27.545	1:27.304	1:27.304	Qualifying 3, 1:27.304
3	George Russell Mercedes	63	1:28.282	1:28.282	1:27.599	1:27.599	1:27.407	1:27.407	Qualifying 3, 1:27.407
4	Charles Leclerc Ferrari	16	1:28.552	1:28.552	1:27.866	1:27.866	1:27.670	1:27.670	Qualifying 3, 1:27.670
5	Kimi Antonelli Mercedes	12	1:28.128	1:28.128	1:27.798	1:27.798	1:27.866	1:27.866	Qualifying 3, 1:27.866
6	Carlos Sainz Jnr Williams	55	1:28.354	1:28.354	1:28.024	1:28.024	1:28.164	1:28.164	Qualifying 3, 1:28.164
7	Lewis Hamilton Ferrari	44	1:28.372	1:28.372	1:28.102	1:28.102	1:28.201	1:28.201	Qualifying 3, 1:28.201
8	Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull	22	1:28.226	1:28.226	1:27.990	1:27.990	1:28.204	1:28.204	Qualifying 3, 1:28.204
9	Pierre Gasly Alpine	10	1:28.421	1:28.421	1:28.025	1:28.025	1:28.367	1:28.367	Qualifying 3, 1:28.367
10	Lando Norris McLaren	4	1:27.805	1:27.805	fastest lap 1:27.481	fastest lap 1:27.481	not available	not available	Qualifying 2, fastest lap 1:27.481
11	Alexander Albon Williams	23	1:28.279	1:28.279	1:28.109	1:28.109	not available	not available	Qualifying 2, 1:28.109
12	Liam Lawson RB	30	1:28.561	1:28.561	1:28.191	1:28.191	not available	not available	Qualifying 2, 1:28.191
13	Fernando Alonso Aston Martin	14	1:28.548	1:28.548	1:28.303	1:28.303	not available	not available	Qualifying 2, 1:28.303
14	Isack Hadjar RB	6	1:28.571	1:28.571	1:28.418	1:28.418	not available	not available	Qualifying 2, 1:28.418
15	Oliver Bearman Haas	87	1:28.536	1:28.536	1:28.648	1:28.648	not available	not available	Qualifying 2, 1:28.648
16	Lance Stroll Aston Martin	18	1:28.645	1:28.645	not available	not available	not available	not available	Qualifying 1, 1:28.645
17	Jack Doohan Alpine	7	1:28.739	1:28.739	not available	not available	not available	not available	Qualifying 1, 1:28.739
18	Nico Hulkenberg Sauber	27	1:28.782	1:28.782	not available	not available	not available	not available	Qualifying 1, 1:28.782
19	Esteban Ocon Haas	31	1:29.092	1:29.092	not available	not available	not available	not available	Qualifying 1, 1:29.092
20	Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber	5	1:29.462	1:29.462	not available	not available	not available	not available	Qualifying 1, 1:29.462

Last updated 19th April 2025 at 19:13

Race

Jeddah Corniche Circuit, 20 April 2025

= Fastest lap

Rank	Driver	Number	Grid	Fastest Lap	Race Time
1	Max Verstappen Red Bull	1	1	not available	no time
2	Oscar Piastri McLaren	81	2	not available	no time
3	George Russell Mercedes	63	3	not available	no time
4	Charles Leclerc Ferrari	16	4	not available	no time
5	Kimi Antonelli Mercedes	12	5	not available	no time
6	Carlos Sainz Jnr Williams	55	6	not available	no time
7	Lewis Hamilton Ferrari	44	7	not available	no time
8	Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull	22	8	not available	no time
9	Pierre Gasly Alpine	10	9	not available	no time
10	Lando Norris McLaren	4	10	not available	no time
11	Alexander Albon Williams	23	11	not available	no time
12	Liam Lawson RB	30	12	not available	no time
13	Fernando Alonso Aston Martin	14	13	not available	no time
14	Isack Hadjar RB	6	14	not available	no time
15	Oliver Bearman Haas	87	15	not available	no time
16	Lance Stroll Aston Martin	18	16	not available	no time
17	Jack Doohan Alpine	7	17	not available	no time
18	Nico Hulkenberg Sauber	27	18	not available	no time
19	Esteban Ocon Haas	31	19	not available	no time
20	Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber	5	20	not available	no time

Last updated 19th April 2025 at 19:14

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