Oscar Piastri Clinches Saudi Arabian GP Win and Takes Championship Lead
Early Drama Sets the Stage
Formula 1 2025 Saudi Arabian GP at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit kicked off with immediate drama. Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri went wheel-to-wheel into Turn 1, with Verstappen cutting across the apex. While Verstappen initially retained the lead, stewards handed him a five-second penalty for gaining an advantage — a move that would prove costly.
Piastri Seizes Control
With Verstappen serving his penalty during his pit stop, Piastri took over the lead. Lando Norris, starting 10th after a qualifying crash, temporarily led the race due to an alternative hard tyre strategy, but after his pit stop, Piastri resumed command. From there, the Australian delivered a flawless drive, crossing the finish line 2.8 seconds ahead of Verstappen to secure his third win of the season.
First-Lap Chaos and Midfield Battles
The race was neutralized early on after a collision between Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda, eliminating both drivers and triggering a Safety Car. The midfield battles were intense, with thrilling duels between Norris and Hamilton, and a dramatic fight for minor points positions involving Hadjar, Albon, and others.
Podium Finishers and Top Performers
Charles Leclerc completed the podium for Ferrari, claiming his first rostrum of the 2025 season. Norris, despite a spirited charge, had to settle for fourth, followed by the Mercedes duo of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli. Lewis Hamilton added to Ferrari’s points haul with a seventh-place finish.
Williams enjoyed a strong outing, with Carlos Sainz finishing eighth and Alex Albon ninth. Isack Hadjar claimed the final point for Racing Bulls, while Fernando Alonso missed out once again, finishing 11th.
Championship Implications
Piastri’s victory propels him to the top of the Drivers’ Championship standings, making him the first Australian to lead the title race in 15 years — since his manager, Mark Webber. The win caps an extraordinary weekend for McLaren, while Verstappen now finds himself under pressure after a rare defeat.
Formula 1 2025 Saudi Arabian GP Race Results:
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 1:21:06.758
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) : +2.843s
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) : +8.104s
- Lando Norris (McLaren) : +9.196s
- George Russell (Mercedes) : +27.236s
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) : +34.688s
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) : +39.073s
- Carlos Sainz (Williams) : +64.630s
- Alex Albon (Williams) : +66.515s
- Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) : +67.091s
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) : +75.917s
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) : +78.451s
- Oliver Bearman (Haas) : +79.194s
- Esteban Ocon (Haas) : +99.723s
- Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) : +1 lap
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) : +1 lap
- Jack Doohan (Alpine) : +1 lap
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) : +1 lap
- Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) : DNF
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine) : DNF
Looking Ahead
The championship now moves to Miami from May 2-4, where Piastri will aim to defend his newly earned points lead in what promises to be another thrilling round of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
