Oscar Piastri claims third win and championship lead at Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

Oscar Piastri clinched his third victory of the 2025 season at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, propelling him to the top of the Drivers’ Championship standings.

The Australian’s impeccable performance at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit solidified his status as a formidable contender in the Formula 1 arena, making him the first Australian driver to lead the championship in 15 years.

The race kicked off with an exhilarating bout for supremacy as Piastri, starting from second, battled wheel-to-wheel with polesitter Max Verstappen. However, the Dutchman’s aggressive manoeuvre that saw him cut the apex into the first corner resulted in a five-second time penalty that would reshape the race. Having temporarily held the lead, Verstappen was forced to cede his position after serving his penalty during the pit stop, thus handing the advantage to Piastri.

As the race unfolded, Lando Norris, Piastri’s McLaren teammate, staged a remarkable recovery drive after starting from 10th position due to a qualifying crash. Opting for a longer first stint on hard tyres, Norris momentarily inherited the lead as the frontrunners made their pit stops. However, once Piastri transitioned to medium tyres, he swiftly reclaimed the top spot, establishing a significant advantage that left his competitors scrambling.

Piastri’s mastery at the front was evident as he cruised to the finish line, claiming victory with a comfortable 2.8-second margin over Verstappen. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc secured his first podium of the season, finishing in third place, while Norris settled for fourth, unable to catch Leclerc despite a spirited chase in the closing laps. The Mercedes duo of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli completed the top six, with Lewis Hamilton further contributing to Ferrari’s points in seventh place.

The race also proved fruitful for Williams, with Carlos Sainz achieving eighth place, marking his best result for the team, followed closely by teammate Alex Albon in ninth. Albon notably held off challenges from Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar, ensuring a strong points haul for his squad.

However, not all drivers experienced a smooth race; Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda were forced to retire early following a collision that triggered a Safety Car phase. The remaining finishing order saw Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso miss out on points once again, finishing in 11th, while Liam Lawson from Racing Bulls took 12th after incurring a 10-second penalty. Haas drivers Ollie Bearman and Esteban Ocon rounded out the results in 13th and 14th, respectively, amid a tightly contested midfield.

With his victory in Saudi Arabia, Piastri now leads the Drivers’ Championship by 10 points over teammate Norris, marking a momentous achievement for both the driver and his management, notably his former mentor, Mark Webber, who last led the championship for Australia almost two decades ago.