Oscar Piastri de McLaren won the Saudi Grand Prix Sunday by Red Bull Poleter Max Verstappen to lead the World Championship for the first time in his career after one of his “most difficult” races of all time. 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.
“I’m looking for a sofa! It was a fairly difficult race,” said Piastri, while fireworks were illuminating the night sky.
“I made the difference at the start and made my cases to shoot the first one and that was enough.
“Certainly one of the most difficult races I had during my career, so I am happy to be able to get there.”
“Max was still a little too close to my taste!” Piastri added, after crossing the line of 2.843 seconds away from the quadruple world champion.
“I’m going to stay short enough,” said Verstappen, not wanting to discuss his penalty. “It was a great weekend along the track and the rest is what it is.”
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 overturned Verstappen at the first turn, but the Dutchman cut the chicane, inviting Piastri to say to his team: “He needs to return it, 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.
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.
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.
Verstappen arrived at the 22nd round to serve his penalty.
At the front Leclerc and Norris, both still in wells, led by Piastri, with Verstappen fourth.
Leclerc finally arrived at the 30th round, Norris who followed a few laps later to leave his teammate in the firm control of the race.
Piastri duly brought to 99 points in the race for the world title of 2025, 10 to 10 years from 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.
Even if he is celebrating until the night – unlikely for the Aussie calm and composed – at least Piastri will be able to wake up without a wooden mouth because the celebrations of the podium are modified to adhere to the national prohibition of the kingdom rich in oil, with sparkling rose water replacing the traditional sparkling grape juice.
(This story has not been published by NDTV staff and is automatically generated from a unionized flow.)
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