Just like that, we’re back again for another week of F1 action, as the teams gear up for the final leg of a rare triple-header with a trip to Saudi Arabia for the fifth race of the season.
If you were up for the 3am start last weekend, you were treated to an exciting affair—with plenty of overtakes, and movement across the grid was a major step up from what we saw in Suzuka.
Let’s hope for more of the same this week, as the Jeddah Corniche Circuit is known for its high-speed layout and tendency to produce thrilling racing.
Where Do We Sit After Bahrain?
It’s the two ‘number ones’ approach for Zak Brown and McLaren, with both drivers currently occupying the top two spots in the Drivers’ Championship—separated by just three points.
But don’t count out Max Verstappen and George Russell, who remain within striking distance on 69 and 63 points, respectively.
Over in the Constructors’ Championship, there wasn’t much movement this past week. McLaren extended their lead at the top, now 58 points clear of second-place Mercedes, who are sitting on 93 and continuing to build a gap over Red Bull and Ferrari.
Both Red Bull and Ferrari are still searching for the pace needed to mount a serious title challenge, and will need to find it sooner rather than later.
What to expect in Saudi Arabia
The Jeddah Corniche Circuit plays host to the 2025 edition of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and will be looking to build on the excitement from the Bahrain GP. The circuit features average speeds of 250 km/h—second only to Monza, the ‘Temple of Speed,’ during the 2021 season.
It also boasts one of the highest corner counts on the calendar with 27 turns, most of which are high-speed sweepers that send drivers flying along the stunning Jeddah waterfront.
After this past weekend, my two top picks to win the Saudi Arabian GP both come from the same garage—Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri. With most of the field struggling to consistently land podiums or race wins outside of the McLaren duo, the final leg of this triple-header feels destined to end with one of the drivers in orange hoisting the trophy.
My Pick – Oscar Piastri $2.40: He may still be seen by some as McLaren’s number two, but Oscar Piastri is the only driver with multiple wins this season—and he’s heading into the weekend in scintillating form. At the same price as Norris, give me Piastri to take the win at this weekend’s Grand Prix. $2.40 feels like solid value.
Outsider – Charles Leclerc $11: My outsider this week is Charles Leclerc—traditionally one of the more dominant drivers on the grid, but currently in a Ferrari that hasn’t quite reached race-winning form. It’s definitely a long shot at $11, but if there’s going to be an upset, the Monegasque could be the man to deliver it. If you’re not sold on him for the win, his top-3 market offers decent value at $2.40.
As mentioned last week, the top six spots are largely dominated by the usual suspects: McLaren, Ferrari, Mercedes, and Max Verstappen. With both McLaren drivers expected to be there—barring something unusual—who else could sneak into the top-six mix this weekend?
My Pick – Lewis Hamilton $1.53: After his season-best 5th-place finish last weekend, the new man in red is clearly growing more comfortable at his new team. His race pace has been more impressive than his qualifying performances so far—climbing from 9th to 5th in Bahrain is proof of that. If he can put together a stronger Saturday in Saudi Arabia, another top-six finish is well within reach for Hamilton.
Outsider Pick – Pierre Gasly $8: Pierre Gasly scored his first points of the season—and Alpine’s—in Bahrain, and he’s not short on self-belief. Recently, he even claimed that with the right car, he could be a world champion by 2026. While I’m not quite ready to co-sign that take, he did battle fiercely with the big boys last weekend and brought home a solid P7. At his current price point, and with the way he’s been driving, Gasly could definitely be a name worth keeping an eye on.
Name To Watch – Oliver Bearman $3.50: Another rookie with an up-and-down start to his inaugural F1 season, Oliver Bearman showed flashes in Bahrain of why he was being spoken about in the same breath as rising star Kimi Antonelli. In Bahrain, he stormed from P20 to P10, securing a points finish in a drive that put his talent on full display.
Can he do it again? I’m not sure—but given what we’ve seen so far, and considering he’s in a less-than-ideal car, don’t be surprised if he finds himself back in the points this weekend.