Oscar Piastri delivered a flawless drive under the Jeddah floodlights to win the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and claim the top spot in the drivers’ standings becoming the first Australian in 15 years to lead a Formula 1 championship.
This was a race defined by poise and precision. Piastri’s third win in five races was built on smart racecraft, fearless overtaking, and a cool head in high-pressure moments not least when Max Verstappen edged ahead at the first corner before earning a penalty for leaving the track.
Verstappen’s five-second punishment ultimately cost him the race. Although the Red Bull driver displayed strong pace, he couldn’t create a gap wide enough to absorb the penalty during pit stops, handing the net lead back to a relentless Piastri.
The McLaren man didn’t put a wheel wrong. His confident move on Lewis Hamilton at top speed and composed handling of dirty air when catching teammate Lando Norris showcased a maturity well beyond his years. Even a misidentified red light on a balcony didn’t shake his concentration.
Piastri calmly reported Verstappen’s opening-lap move over the radio and knew the stewards and strategy would take care of the rest.
Behind the front two, Charles Leclerc earned Ferrari’s first podium of the season. His exceptional tyre management and long middle stint helped him hold off Norris and close the gap to Verstappen by the finish.
Norris’s recovery from a P10 start, after crashing in qualifying, saw him climb to fourth. But for the second consecutive weekend, a self-inflicted Saturday error forced him into damage control on Sunday.
In a chaotic midfield, rookie Kimi Antonelli impressed in sixth, while Hamilton and Sainz struggled for rhythm. Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda’s early collision brought out the safety car, but the drama belonged to the front where Oscar Piastri quietly took control of the 2025 title race.
