Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2025: Formula 1 all set to hit top gear in FP1 at Jeddah as McLaren lead title charge

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

• Red Bull seeks recovery from Bahrain error, with Max Verstappen looking to win third Jeddah
• McLaren seeks to maintain impressive streak with fourth victory in five events
• Air and track temperatures rise as teams gear up for FP1 in dry weather

F1 back in Jeddah as teams gear up for high-drama Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

Arriving for practice day!

FP1 in the sun, then FP2 under the lights 💡#F1 #SaudiArabianGP pic.twitter.com/Yl7qmCLatX

— Formula 1 (@F1) April 18, 2025

The Formula 1 track travels to the Jeddah Corniche Circuit this weekend as the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix gears up to mark the season's fifth round. Teams and drivers will be tested on one of the most demanding street circuits on the schedule under the blistering desert sun.

Ever since its opening in 2021, Jeddah has supplied blistering drama and frenetic wheel-to-wheel racing—most notably during the opening event when tensions between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton boiled over in their heated championship duel.

Red Bull looks to regain grip as McLaren soars high; Ferrari and Mercedes await liftoff

It's for the fans 🙌#F1 #SaudiArabianGP pic.twitter.com/AeMrHFVgSM

— Formula 1 (@F1) April 18, 2025

Red Bull Racing has generally fared well at the Saudi Arabian track, having won three times out of four there. 2022 and 2023 winner Max Verstappen will be seeking to recover from a disastrous showing in Bahrain, which showed a lot of vulnerability in the RB21.

For Verstappen, this weekend is not only about points—it's about asserting superiority in a championship battle that has rapidly become more wide open than anyone had envisioned.

McLaren comes to Jeddah as the team to beat, having won three of the first four rounds. Lando Norris leads the Drivers' Championship, but the team is mindful that it will take finesse, strategy, and faultless execution to maintain momentum on a street track like Jeddah.

Meanwhile, Ferrari and Mercedes keep chasing their first wins of the season. With Charles Leclerc and George Russell demonstrating steadily improving pace, both squads will be taking Friday practice sessions to tweak setups and release performance.

Weather report: Scorching, humid, and parched

With Free Practice 1 looming, the weather at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit is hot and stable but bone dry—just the ticket for teams to gather valuable information.

• Air temperature: 27.9°C
• Track temperature: 51°C
• Humidity: 72%
• Wind: Light, from the southeast at 1.7 m/s
• Rain forecast: 0% chance of precipitation

Grip levels can be expected to change quickly as rubber gets deposited, with tyre strategy and heat management in key roles over the weekend.

Also read: F1 blows up with memes that aren’t taking a backseat over Max Verstappen’s exit fears from Red Bull

Let the games begin in Saudi Arabia

With championship dynamics on the move, team rivalries intensifying, and technical warfare escalating, Jeddah may once more play a role in determining the storyline of the 2025 season. Eyes will be peeled for Red Bull's reaction, McLaren's hot streak, and the fight for dominance under lights in Saudi Arabia.