After one of his “toughest” races to date, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri defeated Red Bull polesitter Max Verstappen to win the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Sunday, taking the lead in the world championship for the first time in his career. Under the floodlights at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari finished on the podium for this season’s fifth round.
When Verstappen was given a five-second penalty for gaining an advantage after straying off the track, Piastri’s third victory of the year was largely determined at the first turn.
Since his agency Mark Webber took over 15 years ago, he is the first Australian to top the drivers’ rankings.
“I’m looking for a couch! It was a pretty tough race,” said Piastri, as fireworks lit up the night sky. I made the difference at the start and made my case in to Turn One and that was enough. Definitely one of the toughest races I’ve had in my career so I’m happy I could come out on top in it.” Max was still a bit too close for my liking!” Piastri said, after crossing the line 2.843 seconds clear of the four-time world champion.
“I’m going to keep it quite short,”said Verstappen, not wanting to discuss his penalty. “It’s been a great weekend along the track and the rest is what it is.”
Lando Norris, Piastri’s teammate at McLaren, who started the weekend at the top of the standings, finished fourth, ahead of Kimi Antonelli and George Russell’s Mercedes.
At the world’s fastest street track, which is a strip of asphalt that hugs a lagoon on the Red Sea shoreline, the lights went out as the sun sank and the anxiety increased.
When Verstappen cut the chicane after Piastri got out to a fast start and was upsides at the first corner, Piastri told his teammates, “He needs to give that back, I was ahead.”
Verstappen’s conclusion was, “He just forced me off.”
After a collision between Pierre Gasly’s Alpine and Verstappen’s teammate Yuki Tsunoda, the safety car was called and both drivers were removed from the race.
