🏁 F1 INSIDER: PIASTRI CONQUERS JEDDAH TO CLAIM CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD - VERSTAPPEN PENALIZED

Monday, April 21, 2025

Hey race fans! Oscar Piastri has done it AGAIN! The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix delivered INCREDIBLE wheel-to-wheel action as the Australian claimed his THIRD victory of the season and catapulted himself to the top of the Drivers' Championship! From controversial penalties to stunning recoveries, this race had drama from lights to flag.

2025 Saudi Arabian GP Podium Finishers

PIASTRI WINS THE 2025 SAUDI ARABIAN GRAND PRIX RESULTS: 

1st: Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

2nd: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

3rd: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

4th: Lando Norris (McLaren)

5th: George Russell (Mercedes)

🏆 PIASTRI'S PERFECT START SEALS THE DEAL

In what's becoming a DOMINANT start to the season for McLaren, Piastri secured his third win with a DECISIVE first corner attack:

• AGGRESSIVE move into Turn 1

• Verstappen penalized for track limits at turn 1 while battling Piastri

• Managed tire degradation expertly despite dirty air issues

• Executed flawless pit strategy to maintain lead

• Takes CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD for the first time in his F1 career!

Piastri after his win: "Once I got on the inside, I wasn't coming out of Turn 1 in second... that's what won us the race today!"

⚠️ VERSTAPPEN'S PENALTY DRAMA

The CONTROVERSIAL moment that shaped the entire race:

• Verstappen and Piastri went WHEEL-TO-WHEEL at Turn 1

• Stewards ruled Verstappen left the track and gained advantage

• Five-second penalty put Max back in 2nd place with hopes of recovery

• Despite strong pace, couldn't overcome time penalty

• Verstappen: "It is what it is... I thought we had good pace."

👀 STANDOUT STORIES

• NORRIS RECOVERY: From P10 to P4 with brilliant tire strategy

• MERCEDES STRUGGLES: Russell laments "underwhelming" performance

• DOUBLE POINTS FOR WILLIAMS: Sainz and Albon finish P8 and P9

• TSUNODA DISASTER: Red Bull's second driver out on lap 1

• HADJAR SCORES AGAIN: Racing Bulls rookie takes another point

💬 DRIVER REACTIONS

Oscar Piastri (P1): "It was a pretty tough race. Very, very happy to have won and made the difference at the start. I made my case into Turn 1 and that was enough... definitely one of the toughest races I've had in my career."

Max Verstappen (P2): "The problem is that I cannot share my opinion about it because I might get penalised also, so it's better not to speak about it."

Charles Leclerc (P3): "I was extremely happy with the lap yesterday. I was very, very happy with the race today. I think we maximised absolutely everything. So, I'm very proud of what we've done."

Lando Norris (P4): "I make my life pretty tough like today... It was the best I could achieve."

George Russell (P5): "P5 is where we deserve to finish but the performance was pretty underwhelming today."

📊 CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AFTER JEDDAH

DRIVERS:

1. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) - 99 pts

2. Lando Norris (McLaren) - 89 pts

3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) - 87 pts

4. George Russell (Mercedes) - 73 pts

5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 47 pts

6. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) - 38 pts

7. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) - 31 pts

8. Alexander Albon (Williams) - 20 pts

9. Esteban Ocon (Haas Ferrari) - 14 pts

10. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) - 10 pts

CONSTRUCTORS:

1. McLaren Mercedes - 188 pts

2. Mercedes - 111 pts

3. Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT - 89 pts

4. Ferrari - 78 pts

5. Williams Mercedes - 25 pts

6. Haas Ferrari - 20 pts

7. Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes - 10 pts

8. Racing Bulls Honda RBPT - 8 pts

9. Alpine Renault - 6 pts

10. Kick Sauber Ferrari - 6 pts

Next race: Miami Grand Prix, May 2-4! Can McLaren maintain their advantage, or will Red Bull and Verstappen strike back?

— F1 Insider