Lando Norris leads McLaren 1–2 in final practice for Saudi Arabian GP

Norris sets fastest time ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri as McLaren dominate final practice in Jeddah.

Lando Norris of Great Britain and McLaren speaks to the media during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on April 19, 2025, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Photo by Kym Illman/Getty Images

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Lando Norris leads McLaren into qualifying at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix with serious momentum, having topped the timesheets in final practice on Saturday afternoon in Jeddah. The British driver edged out teammate Oscar Piastri in a commanding one-two finish for the team, showcasing the Woking-based squad's serious pace as they prepare for the fifth round of the 2025 Formula 1 season.

Norris posted a fastest lap of 1 minute 27.489 seconds late in the hour-long session, narrowly faster than Piastri, who enters the weekend on a high after his dominant win from pole position in Bahrain last Sunday. Together, the pair were over six-tenths of a second clear of the nearest non-McLaren car, underlining the team’s growing status as serious contenders in this year's title race.

George Russell led the rest of the field for Mercedes, but his best effort still left him trailing the McLaren duo by a significant margin. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, looking for redemption after a disappointing sixth-place finish in Sakhir, ended the session in fourth. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc rounded out the top five.

McLaren's form turns heads ahead of qualifying

The performance by Norris and Piastri puts McLaren in prime position to challenge for their fourth victory of the season on Sunday. With Norris having taken the win in Melbourne and Piastri prevailing in both Shanghai and Sakhir, the team has now become the squad to beat.

Heading into the Jeddah weekend, Norris leads the drivers' championship standings by three points over Piastri. Verstappen, the reigning world champion, sits five points further back, facing increasing pressure to claw back ground.

Though impressive, the final practice session may not be fully indicative of qualifying form, as both qualifying and the race will take place after sunset, under floodlights and in cooler track conditions. Even so, McLaren's advantage in the heat of the day has offered a strong signal of their outright pace.

Early action as rookies and veterans take the spotlight

Saturday’s final practice session began with Gabriel Bortoleto, last year’s Formula 2 champion, heading out first. The Brazilian was eager to make up for lost time after missing Friday night's second practice due to a fuel leak on his Sauber. He was quickly surpassed by Oliver Bearman, the teenage Brit who made a name for himself on this very track one year ago.

Bearman famously stepped in for Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, who was sidelined by appendicitis, and delivered a standout seventh-place finish. Now racing full-time with Haas, Bearman again looked confident around the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

As the session developed, it was the McLaren pair who reasserted control. Piastri initially set the pace before Norris responded with his session-topping lap. The two traded fastest times as they explored the grip limits on a scorching afternoon, where track temperatures exceeded 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit).

Radio chatter and frustrations emerge

The session wasn't without its share of drama and radio chatter. Isack Hadjar reported an unusual problem to his RB team, saying, “I have water flying around my helmet, it's annoying,” referring to a leak in his drinks system.

Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda was back on track after his crash in second practice had given his Red Bull mechanics a long night of repairs. The Japanese driver thanked his team upon exiting the garage, only to earn the ire of Piastri minutes later by appearing to obstruct the Australian’s hot lap.

“Bro, this guy blind?” Piastri snapped over the team radio after the incident, briefly interrupting his final run.

Despite the minor setback, Piastri remained within two-tenths of Norris as both drivers set blistering times. The closing minutes saw most of the field attempt flying laps on fresh tyres, although few could match the pace of the two McLarens.

Hamilton struggles continue at Ferrari

While McLaren's star continued to rise, one of Formula 1's biggest names continued to search for answers. Lewis Hamilton, now in his first season at Ferrari after his blockbuster move from Mercedes, endured a frustrating session and could only manage the 12th fastest time.

Even more striking was the fact that Hamilton’s best lap was slower than those of rookie Isack Hadjar in the RB and Kimi Antonelli, the teenager who now occupies Hamilton’s former Mercedes seat.

Hamilton’s struggles add to a difficult start to life at Ferrari, where he has yet to find the ideal balance with the car over a race weekend. As qualifying approaches, the seven-time world champion faces mounting pressure to deliver a performance worthy of his reputation.

What’s at stake in Jeddah

With McLaren appearing untouchable in final practice, Saturday evening’s qualifying session is shaping up to be a showdown between Norris and Piastri for pole position. Both drivers have shown excellent one-lap pace throughout the weekend, and their intra-team rivalry is becoming one of the most compelling stories of the season.

Verstappen, meanwhile, will need to dig deep to find the extra pace required to challenge. While Red Bull have historically dominated qualifying sessions, recent results suggest McLaren have closed the gap—and may have even surpassed them on certain circuits.

Ferrari will also be hoping to recover after a quiet final practice, especially with Leclerc the only driver able to get near the top four. With Sainz still recovering from surgery, the Scuderia are looking to steady the ship and bring both cars into contention.

As the sun sets over Jeddah, all eyes will be on McLaren as they chase their third consecutive pole position and aim to convert their form into a fourth win in five races. For Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is quickly becoming a crucial chapter in their battle for the 2025 drivers’ title.