Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: Oscar Piastri Triumphs in Saudi Arabia, Taking Championship Lead

Sports

Apr 29

Written By FP Team

The young Australian has achieved his third victory of the season.

Sports

Words by FP Team | 3 Minute Read

MCLAREN

After a flawless performance at the Bahrain Grand Prix, Oscar Piastri secured his third win of the season at Jeddah Corniche Circuit, seizing the top spot in the Drivers’ Championship standings—marking a significant milestone for the young Australian, who becomes the first driver from his country to lead the championship in 15 years, a feat last achieved by his manager, Mark Webber.

Polesitter Max Verstappen and Piastri engaged in an intense duel. Both drivers accelerated side by side into the first corner, but Verstappen’s decision to cut the apex allowed him to maintain the lead initially. However, a five-second time penalty imposed on the Dutchman for the maneuver saw him fall behind Piastri after his pit stop, opening the way for the McLaren driver to take charge.

MCLAREN

MCLAREN

Lando Norris, who had started in 10th position following a qualifying crash, momentarily inherited the lead during a series of pit stops, having elected to begin on hard tires for a longer first stint. Nonetheless, Piastri reclaimed the top position once Norris made his tire change, successfully building a cushion over the competition.

From this point forward, Piastri ran an untroubled race, ultimately crossing the finish line 2.8 seconds ahead of Verstappen, who settled for second place. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc rounded out the podium in third, marking his first top-three finish of the season. Norris finished a commendable fourth, while Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli completed the top six.

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Williams also had a reason to celebrate, with Carlos Sainz achieving eighth place—his best result so far this year—while teammate Alex Albon finished closely behind in ninth. The experienced Fernando Alonso faced disappointment once again as he finished 11th, continuing his pursuit of points this season. Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson, after dealing with a penalty, managed to finish in 12th place.

The race was spoiled by an early mishap when Alpine teammates Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda collided in the first lap, necessitating a Safety Car intervention. While Gasly did not continue after the incident, Tsunoda managed to return to the pits but found himself at the tail end of the grid.

MCLAREN

With the conditions warm, race day was met with anticipation, particularly after a dramatic qualifying session that set the stage for what unfolded. Piastri’s victory adds excitement to an already competitive season, as he now leads Norris by 10 points in the championship standings.