Archive April 19, 2025

Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

Venue: Jeddah Date: 20 April Race start: 18:00 BST

Lando Norris says he has a “big job” on his hands to try to recover in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix from his crash in qualifying.

The Briton, who leads McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri by three points in the drivers’ championship heading into the race, starts 10th after his accident. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen is on pole position, ahead of Piastri and Mercedes’ George Russell.

Norris said: “I don’t think it’s going to be an easy one because I don’t think it’s very easy to overtake around here.

“We have a strong car but clearly not as good as we would like because Max is on pole and George is only 0. 1secs behind, so it’s not like things are plain sailing at the minute.

McLaren showed extremely strong race pace during the practice sessions in Jeddah but Norris said he was “going to need a bit of luck” in the grand prix.

He said that to “get close” to Verstappen, Piastri and Norris was “not very realistic”.

“It’s almost impossible to overtake around here, so I’m not expecting anything magical,” Norris said.

“But we have a good car, so if we can work our way up to the top five, six, I will say I’ll be happy. “

Norris lost control on the exit of Turn Four, his car sliding on to the kerb at Turn Five and flicking into the wall on the exit.

He swore and called himself an “idiot” over the radio to his team in the immediate aftermath of the accident.

“Makes sense,” he later said of his frustration in the car. “I agree with it. I should be fighting for pole and, especially on a Q1 lap, not taking any silly risks like I seem to have done.

“We will review it but it’s not a guarantee we would have been on pole, because Red Bull were quick the whole qualifying.

“It would have been nice to be in that fight. I was doing well until then and feeling comfortable. I shunted, so I am not going to be proud, I’m not going to be happy, I’ve let myself and the team down and the guys have a big job to do to fix it. “

Verstappen, eight points behind Norris in the championship, said he was surprised to have been in the fight for pole after a difficult time through the practice sessions, adding that until taking pole he had been “not very confident” for the race.

“My long runs weren’t particularly great compared to Oscar or Lando,” he said. “Naturally, with how the car was reacting today, it will be a bit better. But I don’t think it’ll be enough to be super competitive.

Verstappen’s pole was his second of the season. After his first, in Japan two weeks ago, he held off Norris and Piastri for the entire grand prix to win.

Piastri, though, said the three zones in which the drivers can use the Drag Reduction System overtaking aid might make it easier for him to have a try at passing Verstappen than in Japan.

The Australian said: “I’m feeling confident in what we’ve got. There are a lot of DRS zones around here, which is a nice difference to Suzuka. So, yes, let’s see if we can make some progress.

Russell said he and Verstappen had agreed that McLaren were still the team to beat.

“Max and I were just talking now,” Russell said. “We both recognise McLaren are the standout favourites and definitely have the pace on everybody else.

“If Oscar gets into the lead, you’ll probably see a repeat of Bahrain. If we stay in the order we qualified, I think it could be a tight race until the pit stops. “

Russell added that the decision to bring a softer range of tyres for Saudi Arabia this year could also impact the race.

“The medium tyre this year was last year’s soft, which only one driver used in the whole race.

Ollie Watkins has a message for his Aston Villa manager Unai Emery – he wants to be starting the biggest games.

The striker said he’d been “fuming” to only be a substitute for both of Villa’s Champions League quarter-final ties against Paris St-Germain.

But against Newcastle on Saturday he channelled his anger perfectly as he scored inside the opening minute and set up another to propel his side to a brilliant 4-1 win.

His goal meant he became Villa’s joint-top Premier League goalscorer – alongside Gabriel Agbonlahor – on 74.

But, despite his record-equalling feats, Watkins has started just two of the club’s past six games, a fact he is not best pleased with.

Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford started Tuesday’s Champions League second-leg tie, with Watkins coming on in the second half as Villa were knocked out.

“I played 20 minutes against PSG in both games. I am not going to lie, I was fuming that I wasn’t playing – I let him [Unai Emery] know that,” Watkins told Sky Sports.

“He’s the manager, you have to respect his decision, [but] I am not one of these players happy to sit on the bench.

“It is something I have not experienced before, to miss out on the biggest stage. I wanted to be out on the pitch for much longer. I have played a big part to get to where we are today and I want to play in those games. “

Watkins believes Emery will now have “a headache” over his next starting XI.

“I’m banging on the door asking why I’m not playing,” he added, while also pointing out Villa’s strength in depth.

“Since I have been at Villa, a lot of fans would say it is the best squad we have had.

“The signings we made in January, players like Rashford and [Marco] Asensio coming in, the quality means players like myself have to drop to the bench and there’s going to be lots of rotation. “

With Emery preferring Rashford in the starting XI in four of Villa’s past six games, speculation that Watkins may move away from Villa has risen this week.

Villa rejected a £40m bid for Watkins from Arsenal in January.

Earlier this season Watkins himself was keeping Jhon Duran out of the team, and the Colombian left Villa in the winter transfer window for Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr in a deal that could be worth up to £71m.

Villa are yet to make any indication as to whether they will try to sign Rashford on a permanent deal in the summer.

The 27-year-old’s loan deal runs until the end of the season and includes an option to buy for £40m.

The 29-year-old needed just 33 seconds to open the scoring against Newcastle, receiving the ball in the box and finding the net with a fierce shot which deflected off defender Fabian Schar.

Watkins was the best player on the pitch and twice hit the woodwork in the first period. At 1-0 he clattered an effort against the underside of the crossbar, and at 1-1 had a thumping header hit the post.

The England international set up Villa’s second with a driving dart forward before slipping in Ian Maatsen with a perfectly weighted pass.

And he otherwise impressed with tireless runs, fine hold-up play and continual pressing.

Watkins was substituted in the 82nd minute, by which point Villa were already 4-1 up and Villa Park was chanting his name.

Ex-Aston Villa defender Dion Dublin, told BBC Match of the Day: “I am delighted, why wouldn’t be fuming? You can imagine his frustration. Be honest and tell people what you think. “

Former Liverpool and England midfielder Jamie Redknapp said Watkins’ performance was “dynamite” and believes the striker “has turned a massive negative into a positive”.

“He has played with anger. I have been here, you are fuming and want to knock the manager’s door down. He channelled that in the right way,” Redknapp added.

Watkins’ goal means he is the first Villa player to score 15 or more times in three consecutive Premier League seasons.

Ollie Watkins has a message for his Aston Villa manager Unai Emery – he wants to be starting the biggest games.

The striker said he’d been “fuming” to only be a substitute for both of Villa’s Champions League quarter-final ties against Paris St-Germain.

But against Newcastle on Saturday he channelled his anger perfectly as he scored inside the opening minute and set up another to propel his side to a brilliant 4-1 win.

His goal meant he became Villa’s joint-top Premier League goalscorer – alongside Gabriel Agbonlahor – on 74.

But, despite his record-equalling feats, Watkins has started just two of the club’s past six games in all competitions, a fact he is not best pleased with.

Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford started Tuesday’s Champions League second-leg tie, with Watkins coming on in the second half as Villa were knocked out.

“I played 20 minutes against PSG in both games. I am not going to lie, I was fuming that I wasn’t playing – I let him [Unai Emery] know that,” Watkins told Sky Sports.

“He’s the manager, you have to respect his decision, [but] I am not one of these players happy to sit on the bench.

“It is something I have not experienced before, to miss out on the biggest stage. I wanted to be out on the pitch for much longer. I have played a big part to get to where we are today and I want to play in those games. “

Watkins believes Emery will now have “a headache” over his next starting XI.

“I’m banging on the door asking why I’m not playing,” he added, while also pointing out Villa’s strength in depth.

“Since I have been at Villa, a lot of fans would say it is the best squad we have had.

“The signings we made in January, players like Rashford and [Marco] Asensio coming in, the quality means players like myself have to drop to the bench and there’s going to be lots of rotation. “

With Emery preferring Rashford in the starting XI in four of Villa’s past six games, speculation that Watkins may move away from Villa has risen this week.

Villa rejected a £40m bid for Watkins from Arsenal in January.

Earlier this season Watkins’ himself was keeping Jhon Duran out of the team, and the Colombian left Villa in the winter transfer window for Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr in a deal that could be worth up to £71m.

Villa are yet to make any indication as to whether they will try to sign Rashford on a permanent deal in the summer.

The 27-year-old’s loan deal runs until the end of the season and includes an option to buy for £40m.

The 29-year-old needed just 33 seconds to open the scoring against Newcastle, receiving the ball in the box and finding the net with a fierce shot which deflected off defender Fabian Schar.

Watkins was the best player on the pitch and twice hit the woodwork in the first period. At 1-0 he clattered an effort against the underside of the crossbar, and at 1-1 had a thumping header hit the post.

The England international set up Villa’s second with a driving dart forward before slipping in Ian Maatsen with a perfectly weighted pass.

And he otherwise impressed with tireless runs, fine hold-up play and continual pressing.

Watkins was substituted in the 82nd minute, by which point Villa were already 4-1 up and Villa Park was chanting his name.

Former Liverpool and England midfielder Jamie Redknapp said Watkins’ performance was “dynamite” and believes the striker “has turned a massive negative into a positive”.

“He has played with anger. I have been here, you are fuming and want to knock the manager’s door down. He channelled that in the right way,” Redknapp added.

Watkins’ goal means he is the first Villa player to score 15 or more times in three consecutive Premier League seasons.