Piastri secures Saudi Arabian GP victory, takes championship lead
Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool
Australian standout Oscar Piastri delivered a masterful performance in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, earning his third victory of the season and seizing the lead in the Drivers' Championship. Racing under the floodlights at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Piastri showed both skill and composure to outpace a competitive field and edge defending champion Max Verstappen for the triumph.
The race began with fireworks as the front-row qualifiers, Verstappen and Piastri, engaged in a fierce battle heading into Turn 1. Verstappen, the polesitter, cut the apex while defending against Piastri’s aggressive move, maintaining his lead temporarily. However, the stewards imposed a five-second penalty on the Dutchman for the maneuver, which proved pivotal.
Verstappen served his penalty during the first round of pit stops, allowing Piastri to capitalize and take control of the race. Meanwhile, McLaren’s Lando Norris, recovering from a Qualifying crash that relegated him to P10, briefly led the grand prix by employing a long first stint on hard tires. Norris yielded the lead to his teammate following his pit stop, solidifying McLaren’s dominance.
Once at the front, Piastri never looked back. The 24-year-old managed his pace expertly, crossing the finish line 2.8 seconds ahead of Verstappen’s Red Bull and securing McLaren’s third win of the season. Piastri now sits atop the championship standings, marking a historic moment for Australian motorsport; he is the first driver from the nation to lead the points table in 15 years, following in the footsteps of his manager, Mark Webber.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc rounded out the podium with a well-deserved P3 finish—his first of the season—while Norris pushed hard for third but ultimately finished fourth. The race showcased McLaren’s strength, with both drivers firmly in the fight for championship glory.
The Mercedes duo of George Russell and rookie Kimi Antonelli claimed P5 and P6, respectively, demonstrating steady progress for the Silver Arrows. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton contributed to Ferrari’s haul with a seventh-place finish in his one-off appearance for the Scuderia.
Elsewhere, Williams emerged as another team to score double points. Carlos Sainz achieved his best result of the 2025 campaign with P8, while teammate Alex Albon held off the Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar for P9. Hadjar rounded out the points-paying positions in P10, having applied pressure right up until the checkered flag.
Racing Bulls rookie Liam Lawson finished P12 after his race was compromised by a 10-second penalty for gaining an advantage when leaving the track during a confrontation with Alpine’s Jack Doohan. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso remained point-less in P11, continuing his struggle to gain form this season.
Further down the field, Haas drivers Ollie Bearman and Esteban Ocon finished 13th and 14th, with Nico Hulkenberg’s Kick Sauber in 15th. Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll (16th), Alpine’s Jack Doohan (17th), and Gabriel Bortoleto (18th) completed the classification.
The race saw two retirements on Lap 1, as Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda collided in a chaotic incident that triggered an early Safety Car phase. The collision left both drivers out of the race prematurely and reshuffled the midfield pack heading into the restart.
Piastri now leads the championship by 10 points over teammate Norris, signaling McLaren’s resurgence as both drivers battle for supremacy in what is shaping up to be a thrilling season. The next race in Australia promises high stakes for Piastri, who will aim to extend his advantage on home soil.
For fans and analysts alike, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix marked another chapter in what is proving to be an exhilarating 2025 season, with McLaren emerging as a serious contender for dominance thanks to the superb form of Piastri and Norris.
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