The Key Figures of the Arabian GP

The 2025 Formula 1 championship has many contenders, and from what we’ve seen so far, the title will go to the one who makes the fewest mistakes and the smartest decisions. Just ask young McLaren driver Oscar Piastri, who, after faltering in the season opener in Australia, hasn’t stepped off the podium since and now has three wins out of five possible races, leaving Jeddah as the new World Championship leader. His teammate, Lando Norris, on the other hand, made a mistake on Saturday and paid the price, managing only fourth place and surrendering the championship lead to Piastri. McLaren Mercedes now faces the enviable challenge of managing two drivers in the fight for the title.

On the Up

Oscar Piastri delivered a masterful performance in Saudi Arabia. The Australian, who started second on the grid, had a great launch and took full advantage of a five-second penalty handed to Verstappen, allowing him to control the race at will. Calm yet aggressive, both in his maneuvers and overtakes, he didn’t make a single mistake — which seems to be the key to this championship. With three wins out of five possible races, he’s making strong strides toward the title and making life very difficult for his teammate.

Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz was another standout performer under the lights of Jeddah. With a competitive Williams and strong pace, he finally secured his first three points of the season by finishing eighth. Despite a botched pit stop that caused him serious trouble, he fought back, overtook rivals, and climbed the ranks. His solid pace allowed him to put behind the misfortunes of the season's early races, where he had to retire twice.

On the down

As mentioned, this season is shaping up to be all about consistency, with many contenders for the crown and every mistake proving costly. That’s exactly what happened to Lando Norris. An error in Saturday’s qualifying relegated him to tenth on the grid, forcing him into recovery mode on Sunday. Despite finishing fourth and collecting valuable points, his Q3 mistake proved decisive in handing over the championship lead to his teammate Piastri.

Driver of the Day

Charles Leclerc was voted Driver of the Day by the fans. The Monegasque driver completed the podium after a very solid race, with a perfect strategy from Ferrari and strong pace in the second half of the race. This result marks his best finish of the season and the first podium for Scuderia Ferrari in 2025, not counting Lewis Hamilton’s Sprint Race victory in China.

The Surprise

Williams impressed with a highly competitive car in Jeddah. Although Alex Albon had already scored points in three of the previous four races, Carlos Sainz had struggled with the car up until now. In the Saudi round, both drivers finished in the points, confirming the British team’s progress. The team collected a valuable haul at this demanding high-speed circuit, showing they can compete head-to-head with the midfield pack.

The Disappointment

Yuki Tsunoda is still struggling to find his rhythm at Red Bull. The Japanese driver retired on the first lap after contact with Gasly and has yet to fully adapt to either the pace of his Red Bull or that of his teammate, Verstappen. In his three races with the energy drink team, he has only managed to score two points, compared to Verstappen’s 58 over the same stretch. Pressure is mounting for Tsunoda, as Red Bull needs him in the fight for the Constructors' Championship.

Consistency Award

Max Verstappen once again finished on the podium and remains third in the title race, twelve points behind Piastri and just two points off Norris. Unlike in previous years, Red Bull is far from being the most dominant car on the grid — it may not even be the second-best. At best, it seems to be battling Ferrari for third place. Even so, Verstappen has claimed two absolutely spectacular pole positions this season, and his ability to minimize damage and prove that he never gives up keeps him firmly in the fight for the title.