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TAIF, ��������: The final round of the 2025 Saudi Toyota Hill Climb Championship concluded on Saturday in Aqabat Al-Muhammadiyah in Al-Shafa. The event was organized by the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, supported by the Ministry of Sport, in collaboration with official partner Jameel Motorsport, the digital enabler “stc,” and the Saudi Motorsport Marshals Club.

The third and concluding round witnessed fierce competition among participants across various categories. In the end, Mamoun Al-Qabbani achieved the fastest time, clocking 1:43.879, followed by Faisal Al-Qabbani in second place with a time of 1:44.807, and Jean Lahoud in third place with 1:46.180.

In Class 1, Mamoun Al-Qabbani secured first place with 1:43.879, followed by Faisal Al-Qabbani in second, and Mahmoud Abed in third. In Class 2a, driver Jean Lahoud took first place with 1:46.180, with Ahmed Bajunaid in second and Ahmed Al-Qaidi in third. In Class 2b, Abdullah Al-Qabbani clinched first place with 1:51.966, followed by Rabie Al-Awar in second and Mohammed Al-Sharyan in third.

In Class 3a, driver Ibrahim Al-Shuraida took first place with 1:53.424, followed by Sultan Hamdi in second and Khaled Baghdadi in third. Class 3b was topped by Riad Batal with 2:02.221, followed by Hamza Bakhsheb in second and Abdullah Khoja in third. In Class 4a, Abdullah Al-Khuriji won first place with 2:00.827, followed by Abdullah Moumena in second and Hesham Al-Badea in third. In Class 4b, Ali Al-Khudir took first place with 2:04.534, followed by Abi Wael Dhafar in second and driver Ali Fadl Ali in third.

In Class 5a, Abdulaziz Al-Fadhili claimed first place with 2:08.987, followed by driver Enas Hamzah in second, and Mohammed Abdulghaffar in third. In Class 5b, Hatem Al-Hazmi took first place with 2:07.946, followed by Mohammed Habbal in second and Mazen Hijazi in third.

In Category 2 SS, Abdulaziz Al-Rumaih won first place with 1:51.510. In Category 2 SC, driver Abdullah Al-Omari claimed first place with 1:59.940, followed by Saeed Al-Mouri in second and Talal Al-Asimi in third.

This year’s Saudi Toyota Hill Climb Championship delivered an exceptional level of competition across all three rounds, showcasing remarkable improvement in drivers’ performances and reflecting the Kingdom’s rapid motorsport development, thanks to ongoing support and empowerment.

The championship underscores the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation’s commitment to delivering a fully integrated organizational experience that meets the highest international standards, providing a stimulating competitive environment that enables national talents to demonstrate their capabilities and prepare for participation in regional and international championships with confidence and skill.

With the Hill Climb season now concluded, the Saudi Toyota Championships will resume in September in Riyadh with the highly anticipated Drift and Time Attack competitions.

BUDAPEST: A crestfallen Lewis Hamilton declared himself “useless” after qualifying in 12th position for the Hungarian Grand Prix on Saturday as Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc surged to pole position.

Seven-time world champion Hamilton exited the session in Q2 with his head down and his helmet on as the 40-year-old retreated to the team’s motor home.

“I’m useless,” said the British driver.

“Absolutely useless. The team has no problem. You’ve seen the car on pole so they probably need to change driver.”

But he was backed to bounce back by four-time champion Max Verstappen who himself ranted about his Red Bull car and team after struggling to line up eighth on the grid.

“Looking at the whole weekend, I think we’re happy to be in Q3 because I’ve been more outside the top 10 than in it — so, yeah, it’s been difficult this whole weekend,” said the Dutch driver.

“No grip, front and rear, and it was the same in qualifying so, for me, it was not really a shock. I just drove to what I already feel the whole weekend.”

The 27-year-old Dutchman added that Red Bull — who had left a towel in his cockpit during a pitstop on Friday which led him to throw it out of the car, 24 hours after he had declared he was staying for 2026 — did not yet understand the problems with the car.

“No, clearly not,” he said. “I mean, otherwise, of course, we would have changed it already, but somehow, this weekend, nothing seems to work.”

Last year, Verstappen said he had been quick enough to challenge for pole, but this season, “from lap one, it just felt off — and we threw the car around a lot and nothing really gave a direction.

“Now, it’s just nothing works. You know, it’s like just going around in circles and nothing gives you any kind of idea of what to do.”

Looking ahead to Sunday’s race, he said: “There may be a few cars in front of me that I can maybe battle with a little bit and, of course, Lewis is still a bit further down the road which, I think, he shouldn’t be there right? So, he will come through a bit.”

The two multiple champions, who battled so intensely in 2021 when Verstappen claimed his first title after a controversial victory in the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, appear to have found a rapprochement and mutual respect.

But Hamilton’s heart-on-sleeve vulnerability as he seeks his first Ferrari podium after 13 races this year may soon become a sad ending story if he cannot sort out his qualifying woes.

As the record-holder of nine poles and a record eight wins at the Hungaroring, he has to produce a rousing reminder of his best racing days on Sunday, as Verstappen expects.