Lando Norris will take a silver lining from his untimely crash during the final part of qualifying for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. While the shunt ended his session early and consigned him to 10th on the grid at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, the McLaren driver does consequently have a fresh set of soft tyres to call upon during the race, having not completed a second run in Q3. It will be a particular advantage to the Briton in the event of a late safety car, as he looks to work his way back through the pack to limit the damage Max Verstappen, Oscar Piastri, and George Russell can inflict from the front three starting positions.
Although only a small saving grace for the F1 drivers' championship leader, the new red-walled Pirellis could be the difference between a disastrous weekend for the five-time grand prix winner and merely a bad one. Unfortunately for Norris, however, while there has been a safety car deployment at each Saudi Arabian Grand Prix since it debuted on the calendar in 2021, there has never been an intervention that has run past lap 20 of the 50-lap race.
Elsewhere, most of the top 10 have two sets of hard tyres and one yellow medium compound to utilise in Jeddah, as well as a wealth of used soft rubber. Carlos Sainz, already well positioned in sixth, will conversely have two medium sets and one lot of hard tyres to make use of. Williams team-mate Alex Albon, who starts P11, is in the same position as the Spanish driver - with the additional set of new soft tyres for not reaching Q3.
Even though the Pirelli range is one step softer than at this round last season, and the race is later in the year, F1's sole tyre supplier still expects the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix to safely be a one-stop race. Therefore, the soft compound is likely only going to come into play for most runners in the event of the aforementioned late safety car. Interestingly, all 11 laps of virtual safety car running in Jeddah since the first race in 2021 have come after lap 20, meaning those with fresh red-walled tyres might be able to take the opportunity to switch to a late two-stopper if there is a VSC period.
Given the high-speed nature and close proximity of the walls around the track, there will be a higher probability of a red flag throughout the duration of the race, something that would also advantage those with more strategic freedom. Jack Doohan, Esteban Ocon, and the two Stake drivers of Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto each have two sets of soft Pirellis to draw upon. This could sway them to consider starting on the red-walled compound, which will give them an advantage off the line. From there, they can make the conventional one-stop race work with a second stint on hard tyres.
Norris has admitted he will take his qualifying crash for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix “on the chin,” as the McLaren driver is set to start Sunday’s race from 10th on the grid. The Drivers’ Championship leader entered qualifying at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit as one of the favourites for pole after the Briton and McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri dominated practice throughout the weekend in Jeddah. Norris continued to show impressive speed during the opening two qualifying segments, finishing second in the former and topping the latter by 0.048s from Max Verstappen under the floodlights.
However, while Piastri provisionally went fastest in Q3, Norris tagged the kerb on the exit of the high-speed left of Turn 4, unsettling the car which sent him to the outside and into the barrier through the following right. Having confirmed he was “okay” over the radio, Norris followed it up with “idiot” as the session was placed under a red flag, with Max Verstappen eventually taking a sensational pole from Piastri at the chequered flag.
"[The team] have got a lot of work to do sadly," said Norris when asked how he will bounce back from another setback. “It’s been such a smooth, positive weekend so far, so we’re disappointed to have such a big setback but I’ve got to take it on the chin. I apologised to the team, to my mechanics and the engineers and try and go again tomorrow. The car's quick, the car's been good all weekend so [I] have to think hard to overtake the cars tomorrow.”
Norris’ crash underlines another difficult weekend that has placed the McLaren driver under further scrutiny, having only qualified sixth in Bahrain before making a starting procedure error that led to a five-second penalty before eventually salvaging third. When asked whether his strong form during the practice sessions in Jeddah offered much encouragement for the race, Norris said: “I think a good amount but as Oscar showed we’re not head and shoulders above the rest. George [Russell] is only a tenth off and Max [Verstappen] is on pole so I don’t expect to get to the top few but there’s definitely a few cars ahead that we need to finish ahead of so if we can aim for a top five or something then I’ll be happy.”
As the race day approaches, all eyes will be on Norris as he seeks to navigate through the challenges ahead. The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix promises to be an exhilarating race, and with the potential for strategic tire choices and the ever-present possibility of a safety car, Norris has a chance to turn his misfortune into a valuable opportunity.
The stage is set for an exciting showdown in Jeddah, where the drivers will be battling for supremacy under the floodlights. With the stakes high and the pressure mounting, Norris will need to channel his speed and skill to overcome the odds and finish strong.
As the countdown to the race continues, fans are eager to see if Norris can rise from the ashes of his qualifying crash and deliver a performance that cements his status as a title contender. The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is more than just another race; it's a crucial moment in the championship battle, and every point counts.
In what is shaping up to be a thrilling contest, Norris will be looking to make the most of his fresh tires while keeping an eye on the competition ahead. Will he be able to capitalize on the opportunities that arise and claw his way back towards the front? The answer awaits as the engines roar to life on race day.
