Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: Picks, Predictions and Odds

Lando Norris leads the 2025 Formula 1 Drivers' Championship by three points going into this weekend's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, but his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri has momentum on his side.

The Australian scored an easy victory in last week's Bahrain Grand Prix, becoming the first man this season to win two races, and the Jeddah event is seen as a pick 'em contest between the two young McLaren pilots, who are both rated +125 in the market.

The pole position-winning driver has won all four races this season, so qualifying could again be decisive.

At this early stage of the campaign, Norris and Piastri look like they could fight it out for a maiden world championship title, and their rivalry could be one to watch and enjoy, rather than bet on, in Saudi Arabia. 

Saudi Arabian Grand Prix betting picks and predictions

George Russell podium finish (+120)

The most consistent driver in this young season has undoubtedly been George Russell, the British racer having achieved the best result that looked possible from his Mercedes in all four races.

Indeed, he even exceeded that in Bahrain, keeping the quicker McLaren of Norris at bay in the closing stages to hold on to second place, despite his car being beset by numerous electronic gremlins.

With the exception of the Japanese Grand Prix, the Mercedes has looked overall the second-best car on the grid, and Russell has duly delivered with three podium finishes.

The team have made their strongest start to a season under the current set of regulations, which began in 2022, and Russell can demonstrate his consistency with another top-three finish. 

Both Mercedes top-six finish (-120)

While Russell's heroics have been rewarded with those three podium finishes, his teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli has had a tougher time of it.

However, the rookie has been performing far better than his results would suggest.

After a disastrous qualifying in Australia saw him start 16th, Antonelli mastered tricky conditions to finish fourth on his F1 debut. 

Next time up in China his car's handling was severely compromised by a damaged floor, but Antonelli managed to bring it home sixth and he matched that result in Japan, where he became the youngest driver in F1 history to lead a race and to set the fastest lap.

The timing of the safety car appearance ruined Antonelli's strategy in Bahrain last time and he could do no better than 11th, but the Italian had qualified fifth, which is a better reflection of his pace.

Given a more straightforward race in Saudi this weekend, the top six should be the least he is capable of, and Antonelli can back up Russell to secure a nice reward for the Mercedes team. 

Oliver Bearman points finish (+225)

Another rookie to have impressed in the early part of the season has been Oliver Bearman at Haas.

He had a disastrous opening race of the year in Melbourne, but he has put that well and truly behind him with three straight points finishes since.

His eighth place in China, where he qualified 17th, and 10th place in Bahrain last week from 20th on the grid, were aided by good strategic calls.

But there is nothing wrong with that, as it shows that Haas are capable of the type of smart tactics that can really make a difference in the tight midfield battle.

Bearman also scored two points finishes from three appearances as a stand-in driver last season, and the Ferrari junior looks to have a bright Formula 1 future ahead of him.

One of those top-10s in 2024 was at the Jeddah circuit, where he was drafted in on qualifying day to replace the unwell Carlos Sainz at Ferrari.

Bearman, who had set pole position for the F2 race earlier in the day, qualified the unfamiliar Ferrari 11th before fighting his way up to seventh in the race.

The British driver looks like good value to keep his run of points finishes going.

Saudi Arabian Grand Prix outright odds

Lando Norris	+125
Oscar Piastri	+125
Max Verstappen	+900
George Russell	+1200
Charles Leclerc	+1600
Lewis Hamilton	+2500
Kimi Antonelli	+6600

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.