Red Bull senior advisor Helmut Marko revealed behind-the-scenes set-up tweaks inspired the team’s improvement at the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Verstappen and Red Bull have endured polarising results across the 2025 campaign to date.

The Dutchman finished second in Australia, battled to fourth in China, won at Suzuka, was dismayed with sixth in Bahrain and narrowly missed out on the win in Saudi Arabia last time out.

Red Bull’s RB21 has through corner balance issues, tyre preservation limitations and a very narrow operating window.

Previously, Team Principal Christian Horner revealed the team “turned the car upside down” to help Verstappen win in Japan and Marko revealed a similar operation propelled the Dutchman to a strong result at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

“Let’s focus on the positive: especially after the difficult weekend in Bahrain, there was a great sense of relief within the team, about how well things went in Jeddah,” Marko wrote in his column for Speedweek.

“This competitiveness also came as a bit of a surprise to us. We didn’t expect to have the upper hand against McLaren. It certainly didn’t look like that on Friday.

“The clear improvement compared to Bahrain is due to several factors. We went in the right direction in terms of setup and it has proven again: it is difficult to find the right setup with our car, but if we can find the best working window, the car is absolutely competitive.

“If it doesn’t work out, like in Bahrain, then we are hovering around sixth place.”

Circuit characteristics vital to Red Bull F1 success

A common denominator across Verstappen’s strong results is the nature of the circuit.

Red Bull’s limitations with its RB21 are mitigated by layouts with predominantly high-speed corners: Albert Park, Suzuka and Jeddah.

Tarmac surfaces are also important.

The recently resurfaced Suzuka layout provided very low degradation, masking Red Bull’s tyre preservation woes that were then highlighted by Bahrain’s abrasive surface.

“The improvement also had to do with the characteristics of the circuit: in Bahrain there are mainly medium-speed corners and very rough asphalt,” Marko explained.

“Jeddah is completely different with very fast and flowing corners and asphalt that hardly causes any tyre wear. 

“It was noticeable that the drivers hardly complained about the tires during the race. The drivers were able to drive flat out for the most part.”

Marko added that the Bahrain GP prompted Red Bull to “review the approach” it takes through a weekend to achieve a better understanding of the RB21’s potential.

“After the Bahrain GP, ​​we said that Red Bull Racing needed to review the approach during practice,” he said.

“This has already been implemented in Jeddah, for example by making the qualifying simulations more realistic and thus giving us a better indication of where we stand. 

“Our task at the moment is to develop a wider operating window for our race car. And also to reduce certain weaknesses of the car for the races in Europe, and thus improve the basic speed of the car,” Marko concluded.

READ MORE – Red Bull senior figure casts firm stance on Max Verstappen F1 exit rumours

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McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella would rather see less of the “elbows out” racing seen between Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen in the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Piastri and Verstappen went wheel-to-wheel into Turn 1 at the start of last Sunday’s Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

The McLaren Aussie used the entirety of the track available to him whilst Verstappen escaped to the run-off to gain an illegal advantage in the eyes of the stewards that would later see him land a costly five-second penalty.

It was an example of two drivers testing the limits of the sporting regulations, and one coming off better than the other.

Stella, however, argued he’d prefer his team take a more risk-free approach.

“We always say when we discuss our objectives before the race, we want to see the chequered flag,” Stella explained (via GPBlog).

“There’s no point in being right and not seeing the chequered flag. So that’s the way we go racing.

“I think we race in a very fair way. Elbows out is a narrative that is not part of our internal conversations, nor do I think it should be part of the way the drivers go racing. 

“It’s tough, like I said before, it’s tough racing. But it needs to be fair racing and within the regulations.”

McLaren ‘want to race within the regulations’

Stella added a fan perspective to his argument, admitting that from the outside, the ‘elbows out’ narrative is attractive.

Indeed, F1 media has dined well on the Verstappen/Piastri confrontation.

But Stella explained that the reality within McLaren is different, and his drivers are programmed to race within the confines of the rulebook.

“Well, the all elbows out is a metaphor which I think works very well when we have to create a narrative, like for an article.

“And fair enough, even myself as a F1 fan would like to read an article with elbows out

“But this kind of narrative, when we come to actually programming drivers in terms of their mindset, the approach of the team, that’s not how you look at things. 

“You want to race within the regulations, you want to race in a clear way, you want to race maximising what you have available.”

Piastri fell on the right side of the rulebook in Saudi Arabia, but Stella will no doubt breathe easier if Miami next time out plays smoother down into Turn 1.

READ MORE – McLaren: Red Bull should’ve told Max Verstappen to cede lead in F1 Saudi GP

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Carlos Sainz has revealed he was “a bit nervous” that he would be “exposed” when Williams instructed him to help Alex Albon in Formula 1‘s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Sainz sustained his strongest weekend since his winter switch to Williams in Jeddah as he crossed the line in eighth place to head a double points finish for the team.

Having qualified on the third row in sixth, Sainz was powerless to stop Lewis Hamilton, his successor at Ferrari, and Lando Norris’ recovering McLaren overtaking him.

The Spaniard was on course to bring his Williams home behind the leading contenders, though, when he was directed to drop back to aid his team-mate Albon behind.

Albon was starting to come under intense pressure from Isack Hadjar’s Racing Bulls, but he was able to utilise the DRS from Sainz to protect ninth position to the end.

“A solid race, good tyre management on the Medium, managing to dominate the first part of the race,” Sainz reviewed.

“Then we had a slow pit stop that cost me three or four seconds, but we managed to keep it cool, keep it under control,

and from there on we managed the Hard tyre to the end, going through some slower cars.

“Then I think it was with 12, 13 laps to go, the team asked me to give DRS to Alex to make sure Hadjar didn’t have a chance at passing us.

“It was a bit of a tricky one because you always feel it exposes you, especially in a high-speed track where the DRS has a very big effect around here.

“You always get a bit nervous about it because you cannot put a foot wrong, if you do a mistake, hit a wall or whatever. But in the end, it worked.”

Sainz replicates Singapore exploits

Sainz’s exploits drew instant parallels to his race win in Singapore in 2023, when he opted to hand Norris DRS to stop the pursuing Mercedes duo threatening his lead.

However, the ex-Ferrari racer has expressed that the identical situation that emerged last weekend was tougher to execute as it didn’t emanate from his own initiative.

“When it’s your idea, you’re 100 per cent sure,” he added. “But it’s not the same compared to when it comes from the team.

“You always struggle a bit more to commit to it. It doesn’t come natural.

“But we did the right call in the end. It ensured the eighth and ninth positions for the team and we could bring home this incredible result.”

READ MORE – Carlos Sainz reveals ‘small problem’ Williams is unlikely to solve with F1 upgrades

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Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has no objections to the notion that McLaren’s Oscar Piastri has serious Formula 1 title credentials in 2025.

Piastri thwarted Verstappen’s challenge at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, beating the Dutchman and taking the lead of the Drivers’ standings.

The Australian, in just his third season, has opened his campaign with three pole positions and three Grand Prix victories to lead Lando Norris by 10 points, and Verstappen by 12.

Piastri is the first Aussie to lead the F1 title race since his manager Mark Webber in 2010, and following the action at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, the Dutchman was asked to give his verdict on the newfound contender, who looks set to mount a serious challenge.

“People forget a little bit – last year was his second year,” Verstappen told select media, including Motorsport Week. 

“Now he’s in his third year, and he’s very solid.”

Piastri exudes an icy coolness in his handling of F1 duties and Verstappen hailed this trait. 

“He’s very calm in his approach, and I like that,” the Dutchman explained. 

“It shows on track. He delivers when he has to, barely makes mistakes – and that’s what you need when you want to fight for a championship. 

“And I think with Mark by his side, he’s helping him a lot. It’s great. 

“People learn from their own careers – that’s what I had with my dad, and Mark is advising Oscar. 

“At the end of the day, Oscar is using his talent, and that’s great to see.”

Piastri not thinking about the championship

Given that Piastri is now leading the championship, a newfound thing for him in F1 career, one could think his mindset could change.

Not a jot.

When asked whether things change now he has the target on his back, Piastri said: “No. I still want to go out and try and win every race I can. 

“I’m not that bothered by the fact that I’m leading the championship, but I’m proud of the work and the reasons behind why we’re leading the championship. 

“Melbourne wasn’t a great start to the year in terms of results. But from the moment I’ve hit the track this season, I felt like I’ve been in a good place. 

“Leading the championship is a result of all the hard work we’ve done in the off-season, the hard work I’ve done personally, the hard work the team’s done. 

“I’m more proud of all of those things than I am of the fact that I’m leading the championship because, ultimately, I want to be leading it after round 24, not round five.”

READ MORE – Oscar Piastri inspired by Max Verstappen example in maiden F1 title pursuit

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Lance Stroll made a startling admission regarding McLaren’s drivers after he took the unwanted record for the most Q1 qualifying exits in Formula 1 history.

After qualifying 16th for the Saudi Arabian GP was Stroll’s 75th Q1 dropout since debuting in F1 with Williams back in 2017.

The result put Stroll above Kevin Magnussen as the all-time record holder for Q1 exits, an accolade the Canadian would rather leave to the Dane.

Still, like Magnussen, Stroll’s F1 career has largely been comprised of running in midfield or worse machinery, contributing to his record.

This factor prompted an intriguing comment by the Canadian when asked to comment on his newfound record.

“Yeah, Q1, I heard it on the speaker,” Stroll said post-qualifying (via PlanetF1).

“Put the McLaren drivers in the Sauber for 10 years and they will have the most Q1 exits. It’s car-dependent.”

Stroll is right in saying F1 results are largely car dependent, and he has shown when he has competitive car some stronger results are attainable.

However, his reference to Sauber when making his analogy proves peculiar, but perhaps is a measure to protect his team, Aston Martin, amid a difficult start to the campaign.

Stroll’s team-mate Fernando Alonso advanced to Q2 in Jeddah, but nobody is questioning that the veteran Spaniard is the stronger of the two drivers.

In 2020, Stroll had a car capable of top-10 results in the form of Racing Point’s ‘pink Mercedes,’ a doppelganger for the title-winning 2019 W10.

That season saw him start inside the top-10 in 11 out of 17 races.

“When you have fast cars, you save tyres, and you go through to Q3,” Stroll added.

“When you have slow cars you throw a million sets in Q1 and most of the time you go out if that’s the kind of pace you have.”

Alonso backs Stroll to succeed in stronger Aston Martin machines

Stroll felt 16th in qualifying last weekend “was actually our most competitive session of the weekend, but we just need some more pace.”

There’s every hope within the Aston Martin ranks that 2026 will yield a competitive car, designed under the watch of Adrian Newey in the team’s new wind tunnel.

If that’s the case, Alonso has already said he backs Stroll to press on show people what he’s capable of.

“The unlucky thing for him is that he raced with uncompetitive cars for 90% of his career, which I think is brutal for any driver,” Alonso told select media, including Motorsport Week, in Las Vegas last year.

“Lance had uncompetitive cars for many years and he is still happy to keep committing and dreaming of having a competitive car one day.

“This is some of the mission that we all have in Aston Martin as well, to have a competitive car. I don’t know if I will benefit from that, because as I said I will not drive forever.

“But I hope he can have one day a competitive car and change the opinion of many, many people.”

READ MORE – Aston Martin: ‘Very small margins’ between Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll

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Formula 1 2025 rolled on with its fifth visit to Jeddah for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, hosting a race that always determines the wheat from the chaff.

It was another race, like many so far already, one which saw one McLaren elevated to the top step of the podium, and behind that, a flurry of good and bad performances in the barmy Arabian night.

Oscar Piastri – 8.5

Qualified: P1, Race Result: P1

Piastri took the lead of the Drivers’ title, but it was an unspectacular weekend from the Aussie.

He missed out on pole position in what is essentially the fastest car, and benefitted from the penalty handed to his chief race rival Max Verstappen for their first corner shenanigans.

But nevertheless, it takes guts and guile to navigate the tricky Jeddah Corniche Circuit, and Piastri did so impeccably.

Lando Norris – 5

Qualified: P10, Race Result: P4

Norris had the measure of Piastri in the practice sessions and it looked as if qualifying would be a Battle Royale between the two McLarens.

However, his shunt in Q3 effectively ended his chances of victory there and then, setting him for what a damage limitation job in the race.

His performance was respectable, working his way to fourth, however this would have potentially been third had he not shown schoolboy race craft in his tussle with Lewis Hamilton.

Norris must put his Saturday disappointment behind him, otherwise he will perhaps start to find Piastri’s wheel tracks fading away in his pursuit of them.

Max Verstappen – 8.5

Qualified: P1, Race Result: P2

Verstappen showed his worth once again with a scintillating pole position, utilising the small window he had to change tyres and opt for another run after the red flag period.

The weekend was another demonstration of how superior he can be, particularly given the uncompetitive RB21, but the Dutchman only has himself to blame for not winning.

His poor start dropped him into the clutches of Piastri immediately, and their close quarter duel into the first corner resulted in the Red Bull taking to the run-off.

This incurred the wrath of race control who imposed a time penalty upon him. It could be said that if he had allowed Piastri through, his chances of victory would’ve been higher.

Yuki Tsunoda – 3.5

Qualified: P8, Race Result: DNF

Tsunoda had a good qualifying for the most part, being within around half-a-second of Verstappen in Q1 and Q2.

But Q3 saw the deficit increase, ending-up nine-tenths adrift and starting in eighth.

Any chance of Tsunoda managing to managing to salvage anything from the weekend was abruptly halted with his first-lap collision with Pierre Gasly.

Tsunoda will hope that his TPC test at Silverstone will enable him to gain some serious milage and further understanding of the team prior to the Miami Grand Prix.

Charles Leclerc – 10

Qualified: P4, Race Result: P3

When Charles Leclerc’s doubters find their voice, Leclerc himself seems to find his form, and his Jeddah drive was without a doubt his best performance of the season so far.

As is often the case in F1, your main reference point is your team-mate, and to qualify half-a-second quicker than Lewis Hamilton is a pretty impressive feat.

In the race, he ended-up 30 seconds ahead of Hamilton at the finish, whilst also repelling a late challenge from Norris to secure his first podium of the season.

If Leclerc continues this form, and if the trajectory of the car is on an upward trend, Leclerc will be likely to become McLaren’s chief threat, at least on circuits where Red Bull will struggle.

Lewis Hamilton – 5

Qualified: P7, Race Result: P7

After a more glass-half-full approach after Bahrain, in which he talked post-race about the improvement of the car and his necessary driving style adjustments to make it work.

Jeddah was back to the forlorn Hamilton we have become so used to post-2021.

Struggling to find a balance in qualifying, his driving performance was also reminiscent of 2024, labouring to a race finish in which he did not lose or gain a position in the final result.

His brightest moment came amid his tussle with Norris, showing the younger man he still has it during his more unimpressive spells.

George Russell – 7.5

Qualified: P3, Race Result: P5

Russell has been one of the standout drivers of 2025 so far, and Saturday showed this continuing streak with an impressive qualifying performance.

Had he opted for a similar gamble to Verstappen, he may well have nabbed pole, but he was left to settle for third, but looked firmly in the mix nonetheless.

Come raceday, the Mercedes suffered from blistering on its tyres, which condemned him to a race in which he could do little to prevent both Leclerc and Norris getting the better of him.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli – 7

Qualified: P5, Race Result: P6

Antonelli’s impressive start to the season continued what another points finish, and this time securing a better qualifying position.

In the race, it was perhaps more uneventful than other outings he has had so far this year, but his race pace was impressive late on, which shows improvement in his tyre management.

It would be unfair of Toto Wolff to think anything other than positively in his decision to hire the teenager after what he will have witnessed from him so far.

Carlos Sainz – 9

Qualified: P6, Race Result: P8

After some good one-lap pace in Bahrain, Sainz continued this in Jeddah, out-qualifying team-mate Alex Albon for the second successive race, as well as Hamilton, the man who replaced him at Ferrari.

It was a measured race performance too, and even did his bit for the team towards the finish, hanging-back to allow Albon to secure DRS to stave off a charge from Isack Hadjar’s Racing Bulls.

That sort of experience in tactics has been something Williams have lacked in its second car for a number of years, therefore it must be a refreshing change for James Vowels to have that at his disposal.

Alex Albon – 7

Qualified: P11, Race Result: P9

Albon was despondent after qualifying, opining that being sent out in an isolation, therefore unable to get any tow, hindered his chances of making it into Q3, which he ultimately failed to do.

He did produce the goods in the race though, working his way into the points and helping Williams to a vital double helping in its quest to keep itself in the midfield battle.

Isack Hadjar – 8

Qualified: P14, Race Result: P10

Despite being knocked-out in Q2 and qualifying behind team-mate Liam Lawson, Hadjar once again demonstrated the faith shown in him by his Red Bull paymasters has not been unfounded.

It was, admittedly, a quiet race for the Frenchman, but progressing into the points once again was secured a high rating, particularly as he seem unfazed by the tricky circuit amid his duel with Albon for ninth.

Liam Lawson – 6.5

Qualified: P12, Race Result: P12

Lawson’s first full season in F1 has, by all accounts, not gone totally to plan, particularly as his prior experience with the Racing Bulls outfit might give cause to think he could outperform Hadjar.

He did so in qualifying, but remained 12th in the race, partly down to a harsh penalty for an overtake on Jack Doohan which saw him handed 10 seconds to his time for gaining an advantage, despite having already gone past the Alpine on the start-finish straight.

If the B Team can maintain its pace in the midfield, then points will surely start to come Lawson’s way if he continues to rebuild his confidence.

Fernando Alonso – 8.5

Qualified: P13, Race Result: P11

That early chunk of 2023 must seem like a long time ago for Alonso, a time in which it seemed that F1’s renaissance man was finally being afforded a car his talent deserves.

Fastforward to now, and he is wrestling with another machine that is incapable of securing a meaningful points battle.

Jumping two places from his qualifying position, finishing within 10 seconds of 10th place, it seemed that Alonso did just about everything he could in a car that is currently going to need some of the Adrian Newey magic to see it challenge.

Lance Stroll – 6

Qualified: P16, Race Result: P16

Stroll earned himself the unwanted accolade of having the most Q1 exits in F1 history in Jeddah.

The poor starting position left Aston Martin with the decision to deploy a risky strategy which would see him left out on hard tyres for an achingly long time, in the hope a Safety Car situation might occur.

It did not, and was eventually called-in as his tyres degraded to dust, leaving him to finish where he started.

Oliver Bearman – 7

Qualified: P15, Race Result: P13

In Haas’ topsy-turvy season, Jeddah was more turvy, as Bearman was unable to extract enough from his challenger to reach Q2.

His personal pleasure might have come from out-qualifying his experienced team-mate Esteban Ocon, who was 19th.

There was no joy this time around as there was in Bahrain, but, again, he was able to firmly be the strongest of the Haas cars in the race.

He finished two positions higher than he had managed in qualifying and, in the process, finished half-a-minute up the road from Ocon.

Esteban Ocon – 5

Qualified: P19, Race Result: P14

The whole weekend was a ginormous struggle for Ocon, who seemed to be powerless to find anything positive in the car.

A mistake in his final qualifying run left him behind Ocon, and in the race, executed a strategy of pitting early to hards and then completing the race on the same set.

Compared to all else who tried it, Ocon fared better, but it was still a dismal weekend as the VF-25 struggled around the Corniche.

Nico Hulkenberg – 6

Qualified: P18, Race Result: P15

Hulkenberg looked capable of reaching Q2 despite the Sauber’s lack of competitiveness but a mistake in his final run confirmed an early exit.

His race was, by all accounts, one of an experienced driver who did about as much as he could in a package that is leaving him stuck at the tail end of the field.

Gabriel Bortoleto – 4

Qualified: P20, Race Result: P18

Bortoleto’s weekend got off to a bad start, missing Q2 due to a leaking fuel tank.

It set the tone for the remainder of the weekend, dropping out of Q1, in which he spun on his last run.

He was left to battle it out with Jack Doohan to not be the final driver across the line, a battle he lost right at the end.

Out of all the rookies, determining Bortoleto’s capability for F1 is without a doubt the hardest, as he is driving a car which barely as the capability for F1, regardless of who is in the seat.

Jack Doohan – 4

Qualified: P17, Race Result: P17

Doohan has shown a lot of good one-lap pace, which has seen him get close to team-mate Pierre Gasly on occasions, but the Jeddah circuit is a tough nut to crack, and crack it he did not.

A poor qualifying showing left him towards the back of the field, and his late overtake on Bortoleto was his only positive.

One must wonder how large the shadow of Franco Colapinto looms over him, with Flavio Briatore’s ruthless gaze surely burning into the back of his neck for good measure.

Pierre Gasly – N/A

Qualified: P9, Race Result: DNF

After a brilliant weekend in Bahrain, the Alpine confidence must have surely been high.

Qualifying would have likely keep that in place, too, with Gasly making it into Q3, albeit over a second off pole position.

It must have been frustrating to have had his race curtailed on the first lap, as his collision with Tsunoda sending him to a very early retirement.

READ MORE – Helmut Marko reveals when Red Bull hopes to have ‘the speed to beat McLaren’

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Red Bull has officially ruled out protesting the penalty issued to Max Verstappen at the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Verstappen was handed a five-second time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage after the polesitter escaped to the Turn 1 run-off in a failed attempt to thwart Oscar Piastri’s advances.

According to reports by Motorsport.com, Red Bull, which, per the sporting regulations, had 96 hours to submit a right of review, has opted against protesting the steward’s verdict.

Post-race, Red Bull and Verstappen felt there was injustice carried out, with the Dutchman eventually losing to Piastri by 2.6s.

“Obviously, we spoke to the stewards after the race. They think it was a slam dunk,” Horner said post-race. 

“The problem is, if we’re to protest it, then they’re going to most likely hold their line.

“We’ll ask them to have a look at the onboard footage that wasn’t available at the time.”

The Red Bull boss concluded, “It’s highly unlikely,” when asked if the team would protest.

The last time a right of review was carried out was when McLaren sought to protest a five-second penalty awarded to Lando Norris at the 2024 United States GP in Austin, Texas.

On that occasion, Norris, run to the circuit’s edge by Verstappen at Turn 12 of the Circuit of the Americas, overtook the Red Bull driver via the run-off.

The stewards took a dim view of Norris’ actions and later did not uphold McLaren’s protest.

READ MORE – McLaren: Red Bull should’ve told Max Verstappen to cede lead in F1 Saudi GP

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Charles Leclerc has insisted that Ferrari must place a bigger emphasis on extracting more one-lap pace from the SF-25 to salvage its dwindling Formula 1 title hopes.

Leclerc produced a sensational weekend in Saudi Arabia as he trounced struggling team-mate Lewis Hamilton en route to banishing Ferrari’s podium drought in 2025.

The Monegasque revelled in the Ferrari “coming alive” in clean air as he utilised running an extended 29-lap opening stint to pass George Russell to secure third place.

However, Leclerc, who crossed the line eight seconds behind race winner Oscar Piastri, pondered what might have been achievable had he lined up higher than fourth.

“We just need a better car,” Leclerc told media including Motorsport Week. “If we start further up, we’ll have our chances.

“If not, we’re all too close in the race to make a difference. We really need to focus and put everything together in qualifying.

Leclerc had expressed genuine concern about Ferrari’s competitiveness earlier in the weekend as he ended up over three tenths down on Max Verstappen’s pole time.

With the added turbulence from the 2025 cars making grid position even more valuable, Leclerc repeated that an improvement to Ferrari’s single-lap pace is essential.

“I think we are close on the race pace,” he added.

“I think free air dictates a little bit who is going to win the race. That’s always been the case. Maybe this year a little bit more than other years.

“And obviously when that is the case, qualifying is more important.

“But unfortunately, for two years, we are just struggling in qualifying to put everything together.”

Leclerc highlighted that Ferrari’s oscillating performance at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit has created an added complication in its strive to cure the SF-25’s limitations.

READ MORE – Ferrari pinpoints the sole area behind Saudi Arabia F1 pole deficit

“This weekend the problem is it’s not always the same issue,” he continued.

“This time it was four tenths in the first three corners. For the rest of the lap, we were fast.

“And now today in the race, actually, the first sector was probably the best sector we had. So we’ve got to look at that.”

Ferrari in race against time to improve

Ferrari entered the current campaign – the last one with the existing regulations – expected to be in championship contention based on its run to second place in 2024.

But with Leclerc situated 52 points behind championship leader Piastri five rounds into this season, he has stressed Ferrari doesn’t have long to reverse its prospects.

“Obviously, there are answers in what we are doing, and we are doing something wrong, clearly,” he acknowledged. “We’ve got to find it.

“We cannot lose too many races before finding it because we’re already 50 points down in the Drivers’ Championship.

“We’re not looking at it too much, but 50 points is a big number. I don’t want to be losing more points than that in the next few races.”

Leclerc not giving up on 2025 title dream

But Leclerc is adamant that Ferrari’s sluggish start to the campaign hasn’t triggered him to give up hope on the championship prior to the rule change coming in 2026.

“I’m obviously looking forward to trying to win but sooner than next year,” he added.

“Next year is a long way away, and there will be new regulations and everything. It’s a bit too early to think about that.

“We’re pushing at maximum to close the gap as soon as possible and win races, but I wouldn’t want to wait for Jeddah next year to win.”

READ MORE – Charles Leclerc ‘surprised’ Ferrari ‘came alive’ to inspire F1 Saudi Arabian GP podium

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Aston Martin has held crisis talks over a dismal start to the 2025 Formula 1 season as Fernando Alonso fears he’ll be unable to score points this year.

The Silverstone-based squad does have points on the board, courtesy of Lance Stroll, who finished sixth in the wet Australian season opener and ninth after three competitors were disqualified in China.

Alas, after a troubled 2024 where development issues saw Aston Martin tumble down the pecking order, the team has continued on the same foot in 2025.

The AMR25 has scored one top-10 qualifying result, again, via Stroll in the Sprint grid-forming session in Shanghai, beyond that, it has restricted the Canadian and Alonso to Q1 and Q2 exits.

Stroll has three Q1 exits on the bounce, Alonso’s talents aren’t enough to wrestle Aston Martin into Q3 and the veteran Spaniard has finished 11th, 15th and 11th again in the three Grands Prix he’s finished.

After his latest result in Saudi Arabia at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Alonso said: “I gave everything on track. It was hard to keep up the pace with the cars in front. We were just not quick enough.

“P11 is the worst position probably you can finish and we need to get used to it. It’s going to be difficult to score points this year.

“Today we are P11 also because Yuki [Tsunoda] and Gasly had contact in lap one and Liam [Lawson] had a 10-second penalty,” he said. 

“If not, we were P14. But there’s still a long way to go.”

Andy Cowell calls for meeting to turn Aston Martin F1 fortunes around

With a punishing season in store, Andy Cowell made a declaration post-race last Sunday that Aston Martin were set to hold talks on Monday in order to find a way forward.

“We’re getting together to have a think about what we’ve learned over this triple-header, and [ask] what do we do going forward? “Can we get more out of the car? Yes, I think we can,” Cowell said (via The Race).

“I think there’s many areas where we look back over the last the races and [think] we can get more out of the car.

“Is it enough to win races? No. But is it where we can push forward a bit more? Yes, it is.

“We’re learning about this car, and we’re learning about all the new equipment that we’ve got in the factory, and how to push things forward.”

Newey ‘100% focused’ on 2026

The AMR25 does have the benefit of Aston Martin’s new wind tunnel to aid development, and a redefined leadership structure implemented by Cowell, but neither has yielded results at this early stage.

Aston has an ace up its sleeve in Adrian Newey, but despite the troublesome start to 2025, he’s being kept focused on nailing the new regulations coming next year.

“100% of Adrian’s designing time is focused on ’26,” Cowell said ahead of the Saudi Arabian GP.

Asked if he’d like Newey to take a look at the AMR25, Alonso told select media, including Motorsport Week, “I think ultimately it’s his decision. 

“He has enough experience, knowledge and background to know what is best,” the Spaniard added.

“And I think he’s working only on 2026, so if he’s deciding that, I totally support that.”

Time will tell if Aston’s woe in 2025 will change this stance, and perhaps Monday’s crisis talks have determined that outcome.

READ MORE – Aston Martin won’t divert Adrian Newey focus from F1 2026 despite poor 2025 start

The post Aston Martin calls crisis meeting as Fernando Alonso fears point-less F1 2025 appeared first on Motorsport Week.

Former Red Bull Sporting Director Jonathan Whetley said the Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri Turn 1 clash in the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix resembles a precedent set in Austin last year.

The new Sauber Team Principal was a spectator to Verstappen’s Turn 1, Lap 1 confrontation with eventual Saudi GP winner Oscar Piastri, who got a better launch than the Red Bull polesitter.

In the stewards’ eyes, Piastri claimed the corner and after Verstappen took to the run-off to claim the lead, one he wouldn’t relinquish in the coming laps, they punished the Dutchman with a five-second time penalty.

Wheatley was a mastermind of navigating the race stewards for the benefit of Red Bull over the years and was asked to give his take on last Sunday’s incident.

“Oh I know what my thoughts were! I would have done something different, or advised to do something differently,” he said (via The Race).

“I don’t want anyone commenting on what we would do as a team. 

“I don’t want to comment on what other people would do, but in our team, we would have handled it differently, and certainly had a conversation about doing something different.

“It was the other way around, but it was a little bit like Turn 12 in Texas last year. So I think there were some lessons learned from that.”

How Austin 2024 and Jeddah 2025 compare

The situations in Austin and Jeddah are similar in several aspects.

Verstappen, wheel-to-wheel with a McLaren, a car overtakes at the run-off, and gets penalised.

Lando Norris was the unlucky party in that situation, as Verstappen was on the other end of the confrontation that prompted several discussions over racing guidelines.

That was a counterpoint Verstappen provided to Sky Sports F1 last Sunday, whereby he said “We talked about it a lot and last year, this year, different kind of rules so that’s also not the problem, but honestly this is also not my problem.”

The Dutchman added, “Let’s get the paperwork and I’ll say live, whatever. I mean it’s all written down.”

Still, Wheatley argued that these types of situations are never black and white.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen two identical incidents,” he said. “It’s such a dynamic situation, overtaking.

“You’ve got to take into account the tyre compounds. You’ve got to take into account if somebody’s got a run on another driver. 

“You’ve got to take into account if a driver’s got DRS or another driver’s got DRS. 

“It’s such a dynamic situation and then through all of that and all of the gamesmanship that goes on, you have to pick a braking point.”

Red Bull boss Christian Horner engaged in that gamesmanship when he presented screenshots of Verstappen’s approach to Turn 1 in Jeddah to argue his driver’s case.

READ MORE – Why Red Bull didn’t protest ‘harsh’ Max Verstappen penalty in Saudi Arabia

Wheatley has previous with Verstappen in Jeddah

Verstappen often finds himself in these heated confrontations due to his uncompromising approach to wheel-to-wheel combat.

Wheatley knows this only too well, given the heated drama, stewards’ intervention and run-off action between Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton in Saudi Arabia in 2021 as the title battle rose to incredible tensions.

But behind closed doors, Whetley revealed he’s had conversations with drivers where perhaps compromise could be better solution.

“There have been situations where I’ve had conversations with drivers I’ve worked with, where I’ve said ‘you could have given him another 2cm there and it would’ve made the stewards’ lives a bit easier,’” he explained.

“The stewards have to decide if you’ve left a car’s width or what have you. 

“I love that element of the sport and I think the FIA and the drivers have worked really, really hard on the racing rules that we’re working to at the moment.”

Verstappen and Hamilton came to blows several times at Turn 1 back in 2021, using the run-off strategically to gain the upper hand over one another.

The run-off in Austin also allowed for Norris to make the move that got him penalised last year.

Wheatley said such actions a basically an instinct for drivers as he gave his take on the gravel trap debate.

A gravel trap at Turn 1 in Jeddah would solve any issues going forward, but that isn’t something Whetley has considered.

“If there’s gravel there, there’s a slightly different approach,” he said.

“It’s just entirely human. If there’s an opportunity to run off the track and then sort it out later, we’ve seen that before as well.

“I don’t want to be a 20/20 hindsight merchant, but I never really looked at that corner and for instance thought it needed gravel. 

“Whereas I always looked at Turn 12 at Austin and thought that needed a solution.”

READ MORE – McLaren: Red Bull should’ve told Max Verstappen to cede lead in F1 Saudi GP

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