Lando Norris faced a dramatic exit in the 2025 Saudi Arabian GP qualifying session.
- Norris crashed at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, hitting the wall in Q3.
- His McLaren was unsettled by a kerb, leading to damage and a red flag.
- Teammate Oscar Piastri was the only one with a time as Norris stopped short.
- Norris expressed frustration with himself, while other drivers had close calls.
In a surprising turn of events, Lando Norris, the Formula 1 championship leader, met with an unfortunate crash during the qualifying round of the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. While blazing through his first attempt in Q3 at the vibrant Jeddah Corniche Circuit, things took a wrong turn. His McLaren, caught off balance by the kerb in the swift section between Turns 4 and 6, collided with the wall. This mishap not only dented his car but also dashed his hopes for clinching a top spot in the upcoming race.
The crash, which led to visible damage to the front wing and suspension on the McLaren’s left side, brought about a red flag situation with a little more than eight minutes left on the clock. At this point, Norris’ teammate, Oscar Piastri, was the sole participant to have clocked a time for this session, underscoring the gravity of the incident.
Unable to qualify above 10th place due to the incident, Norris was visibly upset. When his race engineer, Will Joseph, checked in with him after the crash, Norris candidly criticized himself with the phrase “fucking idiot” over the team radio. His candid reaction reflected the immense pressure and disappointment following the unexpected crash.
This was the first major incident in the qualifying rounds of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Yet, it wasn’t the only scare on the track. Earlier in Q1, yellow flags waved as Sauber driver Gabriel Bortoleto lost control, spinning off track. The Jeddah Corniche Circuit, with its challenging 27 turns, kept many drivers on their toes, with more than a few narrowly avoiding similar fates on its tricky final turn.
Norris’ setback in Saudi Arabia leaves him with a tough position for the race, highlighting the unpredictability of F1.
