Lando Norris risks losing his championship lead after a crash in Q3 at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, while Max Verstappen secured pole position.
The reigning world champion's performance underscored his value to Red Bull, a team grappling with challenges in 2025 amid speculation that Verstappen might depart at season's end. "What we can count on every single time is Max," said team advisor Dr Helmut Marko, contrasting Verstappen with McLaren's increasingly unsettled Norris.
"I consider Max not only the fastest driver, but also the mentally strongest. Certainly, a setback like Norris's today takes its toll on his confidence. We have to take advantage of that."
Norris, to now start P10, was scathing on team radio, calling himself a "f***ing idiot" and later telling reporters, "I stand by that statement."
He added, "It is quite difficult to overtake here, so I don't expect too much. If you are leading the race here, it is all pretty easy."
Sebastian Vettel, present in Saudi Arabia, defended Norris against criticism of his mental fortitude. "Don't we all have good and bad moments, whether we're in Formula 1 or in another job?" the retired four-time world champion remarked.
Red Bull's improved showing in Jeddah stems partly from the track's layout and minor upgrades to their problematic 2025 car. "We made small improvements here and hope that the same will happen in Miami," Marko said.
"Then there will be something else in Imola. So it is not one big upgrade, but step by step."
Verstappen, meanwhyile, attributed McLaren's dominance to former Red Bull designer Rob Marshall, who joined Woking last year and excels at innovative wing flexibility. "Yes, I think he makes the difference there," Verstappen said when asked about Marshall and wing flexing.
"When he joined, you could see it straight away."
The 27-year-old expressed relief at Red Bull's progress after a tough start to 2025. "At least now we know what's going on," Verstappen said. "Last year it took until Monza before we even knew where to look. That's a bit clearer now, which gives us hope that we can bring upgrades that actually improve the balance."
