Verstappen's Woes Deepen as FIA Summons Red Bull Star Amid Saudi GP St...

Verstappen’s Woes Deepen as FIA Summons Red Bull Star Amid Saudi GP St…read more

Max Verstappen’s weekend at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix has gone from bad to worse, as he not only fell short of the leading pace in the final practice session (FP3) but was also summoned by the FIA stewards, adding further strain to a difficult race weekend for the Red Bull team.

At the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, a notable shift in the competitive order took shape, with McLaren stealing the spotlight in FP3. Lando Norris led the charge with a blistering lap of 1:27.489, narrowly edging out teammate Oscar Piastri by a mere 0.024 seconds. The McLaren duo locked out the top two positions, highlighting the team’s rising momentum and hinting at a potentially strong performance in both qualifying and the race. Their pace underlined the significant step forward McLaren has made in the 2025 season.

George Russell continued his solid form for Mercedes, clocking the third-fastest time, though he remained six-tenths adrift of Norris. While not quite matching the McLaren drivers, Russell’s consistent performances keep Mercedes well within range of the top contenders.

Max Verstappen, who has dominated the sport in recent years, could only muster P4. While that might appear respectable, the real concern lies in the time deficit — Verstappen was a worrying 0.845 seconds off the pace set by Norris. The sizeable gap raised eyebrows in the Red Bull garage, and Verstappen’s frustration was evident as he returned to the pits. The team faces a significant challenge in extracting more performance from the RB21 ahead of qualifying, with questions surrounding their setup and tire performance.

Ferrari also experienced a mixed outing. Charles Leclerc ended the session in fifth, close behind Verstappen, showing decent one-lap pace. However, it was a disappointing session for his teammate Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time world champion struggled throughout FP3, managing only the 12th-fastest time and finishing over 1.2 seconds behind the session leader. Hamilton was visibly battling with grip and car balance, leading to concerns about Ferrari’s competitiveness in Jeddah.

Williams showed encouraging signs, with Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz finishing sixth and seventh, respectively. Their one-lap pace continues to improve, offering a glimpse of mid-grid teams pushing toward the front. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly secured eighth, while Yuki Tsunoda — now racing with Red Bull’s main team — placed ninth. Mercedes junior Kimi Antonelli completed the top ten, continuing his impressive form in just his second full season in F1.

Outside the top ten, the competition was tight. Isack Hadjar impressed in P11 for Racing Bulls, finishing just ahead of Hamilton. Liam Lawson took 13th, while Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso could only manage P14. Alpine’s Jack Doohan ended the session 15th, but it was an off-track moment rather than his lap time that drew attention.

Doohan was summoned by the stewards after being caught driving through a painted zone at the pit entry — an area strictly prohibited in the FIA’s pre-race notes. Despite the breach, the stewards showed leniency, issuing only a formal warning due to the non-competitive nature of FP3. The incident serves as a reminder of the FIA’s growing insistence on safety and procedural discipline.

At the back of the field, Haas continued to struggle. Ollie Bearman placed 16th, while his teammate Esteban Ocon ended up 18th, split by Kick Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg in 17th. Gabriel Bortoleto, also in a Kick Sauber, finished 19th, while Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll languished at the bottom of the timesheets after failing to post a representative lap.

With qualifying looming, Red Bull must regroup and find solutions fast. Verstappen, renowned for his ability to deliver under pressure, will need to dig deep to challenge McLaren’s sudden surge. The Woking-based team, brimming with confidence, will be looking to convert their practice dominance into a potential front-row lockout or even pole position.

The stage is set for a gripping and unpredictable qualifying session in Saudi Arabia, with McLaren on top, Red Bull scrambling for answers, and Ferrari trying to find their footing.