If Bahrain showed Red Bull’s pace, Jeddah showed McLaren’s. Norris took pole by 0.044s, the smallest margin since the 2019 British GP qualifying battle. Max settled for second on the grid and converted to second at the flag — a P2 that felt like a defeat given the season opener.

What changed#

The Jeddah Corniche Circuit rewards aerodynamic efficiency above all else. McLaren’s MCL40 has clearly stepped forward in low-drag setup. They didn’t just match Red Bull on the straights — they were measurably quicker in the long flat-out sections through sector 2.

Race pace#

Once Norris had clean air, he was untouchable. Max stayed within 1.5 seconds for the first stint hoping for a Safety Car that never came. The strategy of going long on the medium in stint two was the only realistic shot at the win, and it didn’t pay off.

Verstappen’s drive#

Max was as composed as ever — no errors, no team radio drama, just lap after lap of pressure that Norris had to manage. That’s what champions do when they don’t have the car. The points still go in the championship column.

Notes#

  • Tsunoda made Q3 and finished P9 in the second Red Bull. He’s growing into the car.
  • The yellow flag in Q2 cost Sainz a likely top-five — bad luck timing.
  • New high-speed gravel trap at turn 22 worked exactly as intended when Albon went off.