Oscar Piastri took the win at the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix with a smart, calm drive. It was his third win of the season, and it puts him on top of the championship standings.
Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2025
The race kicked off with a bang. Max Verstappen started on pole, but ran wide at Turn 1 and kept the lead by cutting the corner. That earned him a five-second penalty, which cost him dearly later. Piastri, starting from P2, stayed close and let the race come to him.
Verstappen’s penalty was served during his pit stop. That opened the door for Piastri, who took the lead and never looked back. He crossed the line first and now leads the championship by 10 points.
Lando Norris had a solid day, climbing from P10 to finish fourth. He also took the fastest lap. Charles Leclerc gave Ferrari fans something to cheer about with a clean race and a third-place finish Ferrari’s first podium of the season.
The race wasn’t short on action. Yuki Tsunoda and Pierre Gasly tangled early, bringing out a safety car. George Russell came home fifth, just ahead of Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who impressed again. Lewis Hamilton finished seventh. Carlos Sainz, Alex Albon, and Isack Hadjar rounded out the top ten.
Driver Reactions
Leclerc was happy with Ferrari’s progress. “We needed this,” he said. “It’s been a tough start, but we’re moving forward. This podium means a lot.”
Verstappen looked frustrated after the race. “I don’t think the penalty was fair,” he said. “But we move on. There’s a long season ahead.”
Piastri was calm and focused as usual. “We stayed patient, picked our moment, and made it work,” he said. “Huge credit to the team. The car was great.”
Norris also praised the team effort. “We’re in a good place. Everyone’s working hard, and it’s showing in the results.”
After five races, Piastri leads the championship with 99 points. Norris is second on 89. Verstappen is third with 87. McLaren also leads the Constructors’ standings, showing they’re serious contenders this season.
Next stop is Miami on 2nd to 4th May. Piastri will go to Miami as the championship leader and with the form he’s in, the pressure is now on everyone else.
