- Oscar Piastri wins the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and becomes the new Drivers’ Championship leader, marking his third victory of the season.
- Max Verstappen finishes second after serving a five-second penalty, while Charles Leclerc claims third for his first podium of the year.
- Lando Norris climbs from P10 to P4, with McLaren now firmly in the title fight as the season heats up.
Oscar Piastri delivered a clinical performance under the lights of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit to win the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and take the lead in the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship. The McLaren driver seized control after an early five-second penalty was handed to polesitter Max Verstappen for cutting the apex at Turn 1 during their wheel-to-wheel battle into the first corner. Piastri capitalized on the opportunity, taking the lead after the Red Bull driver served his penalty during the pit stops.
The early stages of the race were marked by chaos as a collision between Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda brought out the Safety Car. Several drivers, including Jack Doohan and Esteban Ocon, pitted for hard tyres, setting up a variety of strategies across the grid. Verstappen initially retained the lead, but once his penalty came into play, Piastri surged ahead and began building a gap, while teammate Lando Norris briefly inherited the lead during an extended opening stint on hard tyres.
As the race progressed, Piastri’s pace remained strong and composed. He successfully navigated traffic and held off Verstappen, who had recovered to second after serving his penalty. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc completed the podium in third, securing his first top-three finish of the season. Norris, despite a strong recovery from tenth on the grid, fell just short of catching Leclerc and finished in fourth.
Behind the front runners, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli secured fifth and sixth for Mercedes, while Lewis Hamilton crossed the line in seventh. Williams celebrated a double-points finish, with Carlos Sainz in eighth and Alex Albon fending off Isack Hadjar for ninth. The final point went to Hadjar, who couldn’t find a way past Albon despite late pressure. Fernando Alonso finished 11th, once again missing out on scoring his first points of the season.
The race concluded with Piastri not only taking his third victory of the year but also becoming the first Australian since Mark Webber to lead the championship standings. His consistent form and strong racecraft under pressure have placed him 10 points clear of Norris at the top, adding a new dynamic to the 2025 title fight. With McLaren now posing a serious threat to Red Bull’s dominance, the season promises more thrilling battles ahead.
