McLaren Stuns delivered a clear warning shot to their rivals during the final practice session ahead of the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, with Lando Norris setting the pace in an impressive one-two finish for the team.
Norris topped the timesheets with a rapid lap of 1:27.489, narrowly edging out his teammate Oscar Piastri by just 0.024 seconds. The pair looked composed and confident throughout the session, mastering the high-speed layout of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. McLaren’s performance sends a strong message ahead of qualifying, with the team now seen as serious contenders for pole position under the floodlights later today.
Russell Strong for Mercedes, Red Bull Lacking Pace
George Russell of Mercedes continued his steady form by placing third, though he was more than six-tenths of a second behind Norris. While Mercedes appear to be in the mix for a strong qualifying performance, they’ll need something special to challenge the McLarens for the front row.
Meanwhile, Red Bull, a dominant force in recent years, struggled to find top form in this session. Max Verstappen managed only the fourth-fastest time and seemed uncomfortable with the car’s balance, particularly in the high-speed sections. While Verstappen has historically bounced back strong in qualifying, this session suggests he may have a tough fight on his hands.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc rounded out the top five. The Monegasque driver looked solid but not spectacular, and the team will need to fine-tune their setup if they hope to match McLaren’s pace.
Williams and Alpine Showing Promise
Behind the top teams, Williams and Alpine showed flashes of real performance. Alex Albon delivered a strong sixth-place finish for Williams, continuing the team’s upward trajectory in 2025. His teammate, Carlos Sainz, also put in a good shift to end up seventh.
Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, who had been quickest in the opening practice session, came in eighth. Though he didn’t match his earlier pace, his consistency over the weekend so far shows Alpine may be a dark horse in qualifying.
Yuki Tsunoda of Red Bull’s sister team and Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli completed the top ten. For Antonelli, it was another promising session in what has been an impressive debut season so far. The young Italian continues to adapt quickly to life in Formula 1.
Hamilton Struggles in Ferrari
It was a difficult session for seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who now drives for Ferrari. Hamilton appeared to struggle with grip and general handling throughout the session, finishing down in 12th position. He was even outpaced by Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar, who took 11th place.
Hamilton and Ferrari seemed to be experimenting with setup changes, but none appeared to bring the car into a competitive window. While qualifying may bring a turnaround, there’s no question the team has work to do if they’re to be contenders this weekend.
Jeddah Circuit Challenges Continue
The Jeddah Corniche Circuit once again proved why it’s one of the most intense tracks on the calendar. The ultra-fast street layout leaves little margin for error, demanding precision, bravery, and confidence from the drivers. Several drivers had close calls with the walls, but no major incidents occurred during this session.
Wind direction also played a part in performance fluctuations, particularly in sectors two and three. Teams were constantly on the radio with their drivers, adjusting run plans and gathering data for the night’s qualifying session.
What to Expect in Qualifying
With McLaren setting the early benchmark, all eyes will now be on whether they can convert their practice pace into a strong qualifying result. Norris, who has been on form all season, will be eyeing pole position, while Piastri could be just as much of a threat.
Mercedes and Red Bull will certainly look to respond, and don’t rule out a late surge from Ferrari if they can get their setup right.
The tight margins and long straights of the Jeddah track always create drama in qualifying, and with the top ten within just over a second of each other, there’s every chance we’ll see surprises when the lights go green.
Top 10 FP3 Results – 2025 Saudi Arabian GP:
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1:27.489
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +0.024
- George Russell (Mercedes) – +0.628
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – +0.679
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +0.716
- Alex Albon (Williams) – +0.843
- Carlos Sainz (Williams) – +0.947
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – +0.974
- Yuki Tsunoda (RB) – +0.993
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – +1.001
Final Thoughts
The 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend is heating up. With McLaren unexpectedly rising to the top in final practice, fans and teams alike are gearing up for what could be a thrilling qualifying session. The tight field and high-speed nature of the Jeddah track promise edge-of-the-seat action as the sun sets over the Red Sea.
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