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2025 Formula 1 schedule, F1 picks, odds: Saudi Arabian Grand Prix projected leaderboard, start time, race prediction from top model

SportsLine's model simulated the Saudi Arabian GP 2025 and released its F1 predictions for Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and the rest of the grid

By@Mike5754Published: Apr 20, 2025 1:27PM UTC . 4 min read

With wins in three of the first four races and the top two drivers in the F1 standings, McLaren has picked up where it left off after winning the Formula 1 constructors' championship last season. Now they'll look to continue putting distance between themselves and the competition at the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Sunday at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris enjoyed a 1-2 finish last week in Bahrain, and the two McLaren teammates are among the top favorites this week as well, with Piastri listed at -105 by DraftKings Sportsbook, while Norris is +850. 

The lights go out at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday. SportsLine's proven computer projection model simulated the Saudi Arabian GP 2025 10,000 times, creating a surprising leaderboard.

Developed by daily Fantasy pro and SportsLine predictive data engineer Mike McClure, this proprietary Formula 1 prediction model takes into account a slew of factors, including track history and recent results.

The model has been scorching hot when it comes to picking Formula 1 race events dating back to 2021. It nailed both of Charles Leclerc's wins in 2022, and at the 2021 Mexican Grand Prix, the model was strongly backing Verstappen as its top pick. The result: Verstappen dominated the field and ran away with a surprising victory. 

It followed that up by calling Verstappen's win at the Rolex Emilia Romagna GP in April and nailed Verstappen to win in Belgium, the Netherlands, Japan, the United States, Mexico and Abu Dhabi. It also called all 19 of Verstappen's wins during the 2023 season and nailed each of his first seven wins in 2024. 

It also predicted Lando Norris's 2024 wins in the Netherlands (+200), Singapore (+190) and Abu Dhabi (+250) as well as his win to start the season at the 2025 Australian Grand Prix (+185). Then it stayed hot by predicting Piastri's win last week in Bahrain (-275). Anyone who followed the model's lead on those plays has seen HUGE returns!

The Jeddah Corniche Circuit is a street circuit in Saudi Arabia that has hosted the country's grand prix since it came to pass in 2021. The whopping 27-turn track spans 3.836 miles and it's the fastest street circuit in Formula 1. Max Verstappen is the only two-time winner of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, having taken the checkered flag in 2022 and 2024. However, Verstappen is coming off a muted sixth-place finish last week in Bahrain.

Now, the model has dialed in on the 2025 Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and just released its coveted picks and leaderboard projections. 

We can tell you the model is predicting a points finish (top 10) for Williams' Carlos Sainz Jr. that would pay out +150 at BetMGM. This was the call last week and Sainz looked like he was well on his way to a top-10 finish after qualifying eighth in Bahrain. However, Sainz was retired after a collision with Yuki Tsunoda left him with a large hole in his side panel on Lap 32.

Now Sainz and Williams will go back to the drawing board and he'll hope to lean on some past successes at Jeddah. Sainz finished eight, third and sixth in 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively, at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and wasn't able to race last season after undergoing an emergency appendectomy. Saudi Arabia was also the only race of the first seven last season where Williams had both its cars finish inside the top 15 and they've proven to have much more speed in 2025.

The model has also made its win prediction and is also targeting one significant underdog to make a charge up the leaderboard! Anyone who backs this driver could hit it BIG. You ABSOLUTELY need to see who he is before locking in any Formula 1 Bahrain GP picks of your own.

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