Another Formula 1 race is in the books, and it was not simply, lovely. Despite Max Verstappen’s past success in Bahrain, it did not transfer to this year’s race as he is now third in the Driver’s Championship with 69 total points. Oscar Piastri dominated and picked up his fourth Grand Prix win in his 50th Formula 1 start.
While there’s so much left of the season, it’s keen to point out how close the Driver’s Championship really is. Piastri is on Lando Norris’s edge literally and physically. Norris has 77 points, while Piastri has 74. McLaren looks to continue its success in Jeddah.
I’m back with my 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix picks, with T6 finishes and a dark-horse winner.
Let’s get into it.
(Odds courtesy of Draftkings Sportsbook)
Will Lando Norris Lose His Championship Lead? | 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Picks
Red Bull has been spotty all season so far with the build of its car and drivers, including Verstappen struggling with Adrian Newey’s departure to Aston Martin. Meanwhile, Mercedes is rising as an early favorite for both the Driver and the Constructors’ Championships.
George Russell is on a major hot streak after finishing P2 in Bahrain. He has finished T5 in each race so far (P3, P3, P5 and now P2). He is near the checkered flag and is a few McLaren missteps away from winning his first race of the season.
Norris may still be a viable threat after finishing P3 in Bahrain, but his mistakes and those of his fellow teammate are slowly costing him his championship lead. Until then, McLaren will be my favorite. Still, Ferrari is getting close; I can feel it.
A few things to note: Jeddah’s track is straighter than others, which means less stress on the tires. This situation also makes overtaking difficult, which should not be a problem for a driver like Verstappen. The McLaren car is ironically not its best in straight lines, so keep an eye out for other values down the board.
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Picks & Predictions
Oscar Piastri (+110)
Piastri is on a serious hot streak and making a run for the Driver’s Championship after winning both the Chinese and Bahrain Grand Prix. Aside from a crucial mistake in the Australian Grand Prix that landed him in P9, the Aussie driver has won twice and finished P3 in Japan. Odds of +110 are the books telling you that he is basically a shoo-in to win in Jeddah. I’m not the biggest fan of this track, and this race can go anywhere. For this reason, I’ll probably play it safe with Piastri running it back and put my money in on other props for a Formula 1 parlay.
Yes, Norris is still leading the Driver’s Championship. However, I feel that his mistakes in qualifying will ultimately cause him to lose this, especially with his teammate’s speed working well for him.
What McLaren should do for their driver strategy and who to commit to as the star driver is an entirely different story. What matters is that the Papaya is still in the lead for both championships. Because Jeddah is the fastest street race besides Monza, McLaren’s MCL39 will certainly outpace nearly everyone. This will not give you the bread, but it’ll give you some gas money by betting on the nice guy.
Lando Norris (+160)
Norris and Piastri’s outright odds continue to go back and forth each week, and I expect this to be the case until proven otherwise. You cannot go wrong betting the outrights for either McLaren driver, it just depends on how much you want to throw in. So far, it looks like the Papaya’s car is the complete opposite of last year’s, which catered more towards the Brit.
Street races like Jeddah and Albert Park tend to be more successful for Norris, so I expect him to finish on the podium. Odds of +160 are a solid line to bet on if you are toying between betting on either Papaya driver.
Norris is simply overdue. That is a fact. Piastri is now just three points behind him in the Driver’s Championship. Piastri’s recent hot streak and speed make this decision more difficult for me. However, you cannot go wrong with Norris bouncing back at +160.
Max Verstappen (+1100)
The Bahrain Grand Prix taught me not to listen to my delusional thoughts 100% of the time. Granted, Formula 1 betting is tricky, but now I am more cautious and patient. That said, I think Max Verstappen will bounce back in Jeddah.
The Formula 1 and motorsports world overall is aware of Red Bull’s biggest storyline besides the Yuki Tsunoda-Liam Lawson swap. The team continues to have car issues, particularly with its balance. For the Dutch driver to complain about the car and racing strategy is a sign of bigger things to come. He even hinted at the possibility of joining other teams, especially Mercedes.
I believed that Verstappen would continue his hot streak after winning his fourth Japanese Grand Prix. While I was wrong and apologize to readers, I think he truly bounces back and realistically lands on the podium at the minimum. Red Bull may not have McLaren’s speed, but I trust Verstappen’s own speed and experience to kick in. He’s won two of the last Saudi Arabian races either way and at +1100? It’s worth a sprinkle.
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Dark Horse
Lewis Hamilton (+2200)
Tiofosi, you will love this. The all-time great has not surpassed Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari yet, but it’s clear that he’s getting comfortable in it. Lewis Hamilton finished P7 at the Japanese Grand Prix and P5 in Bahrain, his best finish with Ferrari.
Will he finally prove that it is Ferrari’s year to win it all? That’s another story. The car is slowly improving after Ferrari finished fourth in the past two races.
Hamilton last won in Saudi Arabia back in 2021, so he has some previous success in Jeddah. This is a tricky line with Ferrari’s poor start and lack of consistency so far, but you don’t want to bet against him either. I don’t see him winning the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, but taking him outright at +2200? It’s worth a shot.
Top 6 Finish Predictions
- Oscar Piastri
- George Russell
- Lando Norris
- Max Verstappen
- Charles Leclerc
- Lewis Hamilton
Thank you for reading my 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix picks and predictions! Follow me on Twitter/X @nrojo5 for more fantasy football & sports takes, including Formula 1. Simply, simply lovely.
*Photo Credit: Erich Schlegel – USA TODAY Sports*
