2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix preview, odds & betting tips

The 2025 Formula 1 season hits the streets of Jeddah for round five of the championship, with Max Verstappen grabbing pole and Oscar Piastri ing him on the front row for Sunday’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix under the lights. With lights out set for 1:00 AM AEDT (10:00 AM ET), a chaotic Q3 session has left the grid shaken and betting markets wide open.

Verstappen Leads, Piastri Impresses, Norris Crashes Out

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen delivered another flawless qualifying lap to secure his second pole of the season, continuing his dominance over one-lap pace. With overtaking notoriously difficult around the high-speed Jeddah Corniche Circuit, starting from the front is a massive advantage. “Track position is everything here,” Verstappen said. “If we get the start right, we can control the race.”

Despite starting on pole, Verstappen is the second favorite with top online sportsbooks at +125, just behind McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who sits at +100 after a stunning effort in Q3. The Aussie was electric through the first sector and will start from P2—his best qualifying performance of the season.

Piastri said afterward, “It’s great to be up front. The pace was strong, and now it’s all about managing the race and staying clear of the chaos behind.”

It was heartbreak for his McLaren teammate. Lando Norris looked set for a front-row spot before clipping the wall in Sector 2, damaging his suspension and triggering red flags. He’ll line up P10 and faces an uphill climb in a race where getting stuck in a DRS train can kill your chances.

Norris has now drifted to +1000—his longest price of the season.

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Odds

The post-qualifying markets are tight, with Oscar Piastri narrowly leading the betting over Max Verstappen. George Russell and Lando Norris are next, while the rest of the field, including both Ferraris, trail further behind.

• Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +100
• Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – +125
• George Russell (Mercedes) – +1000
• Lando Norris (McLaren) – +1000
• Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +2200
• Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – +6600
• Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – +6600
• Carlos Sainz (Williams) – +25000
• Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – +30000
• Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) – +30000

More odds available at Stake.com

Saudi Arabia GP Betting Predictions

Saudi Arabia GP 2025 Starting Grid