JEDDAH – Oscar Piastri powered to his third win of the season at the Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Sunday, overtaking championship rivals and a critical steward decision to take the lead in the overall standings for the first time in his career.The McLaren driver’s win marked a pivotal moment in the 2025 title race, as a five-second penalty handed to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen played a decisive role in the outcome. Piastri now leads the championship by 10 points over teammate Lando Norris, with Verstappen sitting third, two points further back.

Controversy at Turn One Decides the Race
Verstappen, who started on pole, clashed with Piastri at the opening corner. Piastri, who launched strongly from second, pulled alongside Verstappen into Turn One. Verstappen then ran wide off track through the chicane, maintaining the lead but drawing scrutiny from race stewards.
Following a brief safety car triggered by a separate incident between Yuki Tsunoda and Pierre Gasly, the stewards ruled Verstappen had gained an unfair advantage. He was handed a five-second penalty to be served during his pit stop.

“Once I got on the inside, I wasn’t coming out of Turn One in second,” Piastri said post-race. “I thought I was plenty far enough up, and that’s what won me the race.” Verstappen offered little comment on the decision afterward, simply saying, “The rest is what it is,” while instead complimenting the crowd and the circuit.

McLaren Secures Strong Team Performance

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc secured third place, while Lando Norris completed a remarkable recovery to finish fourth after starting from 10th on the grid due to a crash in qualifying. Norris’ unconventional strategy—starting on the hard compound tires—briefly saw him lead the race and positioned him well for a potential safety car advantage that never fully materialized.
It was McLaren’s second consecutive victory this season following Piastri’s win in Bahrain last week. The 23-year-old Australian now has three wins from five races this year—he had just two career wins prior to the season.

A New Leader

With this result, Piastri becomes the first Australian to lead the Formula 1 standings since Mark Webber in 2010. Webber, now serving as Piastri’s manager, led the championship that year as a Red Bull driver. No Australian has won a Formula 1 world title since Alan Jones in 1980.
Piastri’s championship surge comes despite a rough start to the season, including a costly spin in the opening Grand Prix in Australia. The young driver appears to have bounced back with composure and growing momentum.