Oscar Piastri’s third victory this year was largely decided in the first round, when the title champion Max Verstappen took a five -second penalty for obtaining an advantage after leaving the track. He became the first Australian to lead the pilot ranking since his agent, Mark Webber, 15 years ago.
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Oscar Piastri de McLaren won the Saudi Grand Prix on Sunday by Red Bull Poleter Max Verstappen to lead the World Championship for the first time in his career.
Ferrari de Charles Leclerc completed the podium for this fifth round of the season under the spotlights of the Jeddah Corniche circuit.
Piastri’s third victory this year was largely decided in the first round, when Verstappen took a five -second penalty for obtaining an advantage after leaving the track.
He became the first Australian to lead the pilot ranking since his agent, Mark Webber, 15 years ago.
“Very happy to have won,” made the difference at the start. Large race.
“Max was still a little too close to my taste!” Piastri said after crossing the line of 2.843 seconds away from the quadruple world champion.
“This is what it is,” said Verstappen, not wanting to discuss his penalty.
Change at the top 🔄
Let’s take a look at the classification of drivers ⬇️ # F1 #Saudiarabiangp pic.twitter.com/iyycssplpb
– Formula 1 (@ f1) April 20, 2025
McLaren’s teammate from Piastri, Lando Norris, who entered the weekend at the top of the ranking, took fourth before the two Mercedes by George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.
While the sun plunged and the tension rose, the lights died on the fastest street circuit in the world, a strip of asphalt tightening a lagoon on the coast of the Red Sea.
Piastri went to a leaflet and raised Verstappen to the first corner, but the Dutchman cut the chicane, inviting Piastri to say to his team: “He must give this back, I was in advance.”
“He just forced me to leave,” was the Verstappen’s verdict.
Behind, the teammate of Verstappen, Yuki Tsunoda, and Alpine by Pierre Gasly took each other, bringing out the safety car and both removing them from the race.
Racing resumed in the third round with a news that Verstappen had been slapped with a five -second penalty for leaving the track and gained an advantage.
‘It’s charming’
After being informed of his sanction, the Dutchman responded with an explanive, adding: “It’s charming”.
He led Piastri on the restart, with Russell Racing Third and Leclerc fourth.
Norris was up to the eighth after starting to return to the fifth row – his car as good as new after the whole “TLC” showed off last night by McLaren Mechanics after the major Saturday with a qualification wall.
Given his starting handicap, the Briton made a bet like the only 10 best to start on hard tires rather than on mediums.
Piastri was content to wait for his time behind Verstappen, around a second back, safely, knowing that lead was indeed his former Verstappen took his penalty.
“My tires are toast,” Russell reported, with stand stops.
In the 20th round with Norris to the fifth Piastri was the first of the leaders to come to install fresh rubber on his car.
Red Bull played, exhoring Verstappen to give everything he could to stretch his advance before his stop.
The quadruple champion arrived at the 22 round to serve his penalty.
At the front Leclerc and Norris, both still in wells, led by Piastri, with Verstappen fourth.
Leclerc finally arrived in the 30th round, Norris following a few laps later to leave his teammate in the firm control of the race, over four seconds away from Verstapun.
📻 “Well done everyone” @OScarpiaStri Ensures his third victory of the season! 👇# F1 #Saudiarabiangp pic.twitter.com/taarbrwpqa
– Formula 1 (@ f1) April 20, 2025
Piastri has kept 99 points in the race for the world title of 2025, to 10 Clear of Norris, with Verstappen with two additional behind.
After this last step of an effort, not to say draining, triple head, F1 takes a break before his well-oiled circus raises Miami in fifteen times.
