JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia — Oscar Piastri showcased his racing skills by clinching victory at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Sunday, proving he can not only speed towards the Formula 1 title but also successfully navigate race debates. Penalties factored into a grand prix outcome for the first time this season, vaulting Piastri to the top of the standings with his impressive triumph.
Piastri’s prior victories this season were commanding performances from pole position, but this race demanded he overcome four-time champion Max Verstappen. Initially starting at the front, Verstappen veered off track during a lead clash with Piastri at the very first turn. Although he maintained a leading position, Verstappen was handed a five-second penalty. Piastri maintained he had fairly overtaken Verstappen on the inside of the corner and deserved the position.
“Once I got on the inside, I wasn’t coming out of turn one in second,” said Piastri. “I tried my best. The stewards had to review it, and I believed I was far enough ahead—that’s what secured my win.”
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc claimed third position while Piastri’s McLaren teammate, Lando Norris, snatched fourth thanks to shrewd strategy and impressive overtaking. Norris had initially started from the 10th spot after a qualifying crash.
This Saudi Arabian victory marked Piastri’s second consecutive win, following last week’s triumph in Bahrain, summing up to three wins in five races this year—surpassing his previous tally of two wins across earlier seasons.
Now leading the standings by 10 points, Piastri is followed by Norris, with Verstappen another two points behind in third place. Entering Sunday’s race, Piastri trailed Norris by three points due to a spin at his home race in Australia, the first GP of the season.
Piastri is the first Australian to lead the F1 standings since Mark Webber in 2010, with Webber now managing Piastri. No Australian has won the championship since Alan Jones in 1980.
The penalty’s role
Piastri credited the penalty for his win. Before the pit stops, he struggled to match Verstappen’s pace without compromising his tires. Piastri took an early lead as the lights went out and was slightly ahead at the first corner when Verstappen ran wide across the chicane.
After a collision between Yuki Tsunoda and Pierre Gasly soon after, Piastri and Verstappen presented their cases over the radio during a safety car period. While Verstappen accused Piastri of forcing him off, the stewards ruled against him, leading to a five-second penalty for the Dutch driver due to driving off-track and obtaining an unfair advantage. Verstappen sarcastically deemed the penalty “lovely” and had to serve it at his pit stop before any crew could approach the car for tire changes.
Post-race, when questioned about the incident, Verstappen deflected by praising the fans and the track, adding, “the rest is what it is.”
Norris’ strategic move
Despite a challenging start in 10th, Norris maneuvered his way to fourth place. He opted for an unconventional strategy, beginning the race on slower, but durable, hard tires. This approach allowed him to temporarily lead the race following the other drivers’ earlier pit stops. Norris could have been in an optimal position to capitalize had there been a safety car or red flag during his lead.
A significant crash almost occurred as Fernando Alonso and Gabriel Bortoleto clashed wheels in a battle for position at the back of the field. Alonso, a two-time champion, managed his car’s trajectory after running into a runoff area while keeping control.