JEDDAH: Oscar Piastri claimed victory at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, taking over the lead in the Formula One world championship from McLaren teammate Lando Norris. It marked Piastri’s third win in the last five races.
Red Bull's four-time world champion Max Verstappen finished second, 2.843 seconds behind the Australian, after starting from pole position at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
However, an early five-second penalty for a first-corner clash with Piastri cost him dearly.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc secured the team’s first podium of the season in third, while Norris fought his way from 10th on the grid to finish fourth, recovering well from a qualifying crash that had compromised his weekend.
Piastri became the first Australian to lead the championship since his boss Mark Webber in 2010 with this win, his third following victories in China and Bahrain.
He's also the first driver to secure consecutive wins this season.
With 99 points, Piastri is now leading the championship, ahead of Verstappen (87) and Norris (89).
The result also allowed reigning champions McLaren to extend their lead over Mercedes in the constructors' standings to 77 points.
“It was a pretty tough race. I’m very, very happy to have won,” Piastri said after the 50-lap contest, held in 30°C heat. “I made the difference at the start and made my case into Turn One. That was enough. Definitely one of the toughest races I’ve had in my career.”
Mercedes’ George Russell came home fifth, followed by teammate Kimi Antonelli in sixth. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, now driving for Ferrari, finished seventh.
Williams drivers Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon claimed eighth and ninth, respectively, while Racing Bulls' French rookie Isack Hadjar rounded out the points in 10th.
The race began with immediate drama as Verstappen and Piastri battled side-by-side into the first corner.
Piastri protested over the team radio when Verstappen raced wide, slicing across the runoff area to emerge ahead.
“He needs to give that back, I was ahead,” Piastri told McLaren. “He was never going to make that corner, regardless of whether he was there or not.”
Verstappen had his own take, telling Red Bull: “He just forced me off, there was no intention of him to make that corner.”
The stewards ultimately sided with Piastri, penalizing Verstappen with five seconds. Verstappen responded sarcastically: “Oh, that is lovely.”
Even after the checkered flag, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner weighed in, saying: “That first corner we’ve all got our opinions on it,” while praising Verstappen’s performance.
The race also featured the continuation of a Jeddah tradition; the safety car was deployed for the fifth consecutive year after Verstappen’s teammate Yuki Tsunoda and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly collided on the opening lap.
Both drivers retired, though Tsunoda managed to bring his car back to the pits.
[Reported by Arab News]
