Oscar Piastri seized victory at the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, claiming his third win of the season and vaulting to the top of the Formula 1 drivers’ championship.
The McLaren driver capitalized on a five-second penalty to polesitter Max Verstappen, going back-to-back after his Bahrain triumph.
The Jeddah Corniche Circuit delivered drama from the outset, with a lap-one safety car and a fierce battle for the lead, as Piastri outshone his rivals to secure a pivotal win, with Verstappen and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc completing the podium.
Results to follow...
Early Chaos and Verstappen’s Misstep
The race ignited with immediate chaos. Verstappen, starting from pole, was outdragged by Piastri off the line and veered wide at Turn 2, cutting the corner to hold the lead. The move drew scrutiny, and stewards slapped him with a five-second penalty.
Meanwhile, a lap-one collision between Yuki Tsunoda’s Red Bull and Pierre Gasly’s Alpine triggered the safety car. Gasly retired with a shredded rear wing, and Tsunoda’s race ended despite limping back to the pits.
Piastri, unfazed, pressed Verstappen, arguing over the radio that the Dutchman’s track-cutting warranted yielding the lead. The stewards agreed, setting the stage for a tense battle.
Lando Norris, starting 10th after a qualifying crash, made early gains. Opting for an opening stint on the hard tyres, he leapt to eighth by dodging the Tsunoda-Gasly wreckage and overtook Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari on lap seven.
His charge continued, engaging in a cat-and-mouse duel with Lewis Hamilton. Norris passed the seven-time champion twice, only to lose out to Hamilton’s DRS advantage. On the third attempt, the Briton smartly deployed DRS at the final corner, securing the place and later dispatching Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes to reach fifth by lap 19.
McLaren’s Pitstop Precision Seals the Deal
As the race unfolded, Piastri kept Verstappen in sight but pitted on lap 20, a slight delay costing him a second as he switched to hards. Verstappen, aiming to fend off an undercut, stayed out until lap 22, but the penalty loomed large.
Flawless execution by the McLaren crews saw Piastri emerge three seconds ahead post-stops, claiming the net lead. Norris, meanwhile, stretched his opening stint, hoping for a safety car. When none came, he pitted with 15 laps left, dropping to fifth but armed with fresher tyres.
In the closing stages, Piastri held firm, the penalty ensuring Verstappen couldn’t close the gap. Charles Leclerc overtook a fading George Russell for third, while Norris, now the fastest on track, hunted the Ferrari.
Despite a steward’s investigation for a pit exit line violation—ultimately dismissed—Norris closed to within a second of Leclerc but ran out of laps to challenge for the podium. Leclerc held on, with Russell fifth, Antonelli sixth, and Hamilton seventh. Team Play and Points Battles
Further back, Sainz’s eighth place showcased Williams’ teamwork, as he allowed teammate Alex Albon to use his DRS, keeping Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar at bay in 10th, the Frenchman collecting the final point of the evening.
Piastri’s win, however, was the headline, propelling him past Norris in the championship standings.
The race underscored once again McLaren’s resurgence, with Piastri’s composure and Norris’ recovery from 10th highlighting their strength.
With the season heating up, the Aussie’s Jeddah triumph sets the stage for a thrilling title fight.
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook
Piastri prevails in Saudi Arabian GP – takes championship lead F1i.com.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Piastri prevails in Saudi Arabian GP – takes championship lead )
Also on site :
- I’m NHL Hall of Famer and Anna Kournikova’s ex-husband who lost $43m and two mansions in investment scam
- Federal judge extends order restricting Trump’s use of Alien Enemies Act in Colorado
- Pope Francis: A Friend of the Jewish People