Oscar Piastri has maintained his exceptional 2025 season in Saudi Arabia, securing his third victory of the year and taking the lead in the Formula One World Championship after just five races.
The Australian driver’s impressive outing at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit resulted in his latest triumph, positioning him atop the standings — the first time an Australian has led the championship in 15 years, since his manager Mark Webber accomplished the same.
The race kicked off with heightened anticipation as Piastri and polesitter Max Verstappen battled fiercely into Turn 1, with Verstappen making a bold move across the apex. Despite Verstappen initially retaining the lead, a subsequent five-second penalty for his manoeuvre, coupled with McLaren’s clever pit strategy, allowed Piastri to gain the upper hand and emerge in front.
“It was a challenging race. I’m absolutely thrilled to have won and it definitely paid off at the start,” Piastri remarked.
“I made my move into Turn 1, which turned out to be crucial. It was quite tricky to follow the pace out there. I struggled to keep up with Max at the end of the first stint as my tyres wore down, but the clear air after the pit stop was a big advantage. Overall, it was a fantastic race and we executed our strategy well. There’s still room for improvement — Max was a bit too close for comfort, but it was a brilliant race and a successful weekend.”
Piastri crossed the finish line 2.8 seconds ahead of Verstappen, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc securing third place. Lando Norris briefly took the lead with an alternate tyre strategy, ultimately finishing in fourth, followed by the Mercedes pair of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.
This result gives Piastri a 10-point cushion over teammate Norris as they prepare for the Miami Grand Prix from 2–4 May, before the championship heads to Europe.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
Fanpage: SportArena.com.au.
LiveScore – Live Sports Results & Odds.
