Piastri Wins in Jeddah as Verstappen’s Penalty Hands McLaren the Lead

Oscar Piastri continued his impressive 2025 campaign with a well-executed victory at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, snatching the win from Max Verstappen after the Red Bull driver was handed a five-second penalty. The high-speed night race on the streets of Jeddah was filled with drama, penalties, and a critical shake-up at the top of the standings, with Piastri now leading the Drivers’ Championship for the first time in his career.

Penalty Costs Verstappen the Win

Max Verstappen looked on course for his second win of the season after a strong qualifying and a clean start from pole. However, with Piastri’s quicker start off the line and the tight layout of the Jeddah circuit, Verstappen saw himself cutting the second corner and taking the lead in order to avoid a collision with the Australian who firmly held the line, eventually resulting in a five-second penalty to the Dutchman.

While Verstappen attempted to climb back and reduce the gap to Piastri after the final round of stops, the McLaren driver kept the pace on, maintaining a sufficient gap until the chequered flag. It was a significant blow to Verstappen, who showed pace and control throughout, but once again found himself falling short due to small but critical issues — something that has plagued Red Bull's start to 2025.

Leclerc Back on the Podium for Ferrari

Charles Leclerc stepped up to the podium for the first time this season with a strong drive to third. While he lacked the outright pace to match the McLarens or Verstappen, his consistent laps and clean race ensured Ferrari walked away with solid points. He managed to keep Lando Norris at bay in the closing stages, capitalizing on his track position and strong top speed.

The result comes as a welcome boost for the Scuderia, who endured a tough run through the early rounds and will be hoping that a street circuit podium signals a shift in momentum.

Norris Fights Back After Poor Qualifying

Lando Norris started tenth after a disappointing qualifying session that left him visibly frustrated, but the McLaren driver regrouped and executed a calm and aggressive recovery drive to finish fourth. He set the fastest lap of the race and pulled off several decisive overtakes, including a late lunge on Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.

Despite missing out on the podium, Norris remains right in the thick of the title fight, now second in the standings just ten points behind his teammate. With three podiums and a win already under his belt this season, Norris has every reason to stay confident heading into Miami.

Early Chaos as Tsunoda and Gasly Collide

The race got off to a messy start when Yuki Tsunoda collided with Pierre Gasly in the opening laps, triggering a safety car and scattering the midfield order. Gasly was forced to retire immediately due to heavy damage, with Tsunoda coming into the garage to end his race shortly after.

The incident also compromised the strategies of several drivers, with those opting to pit under the safety car facing longer stints to the end. Despite the early drama, the front runners managed to stay clear of trouble and deliver a clean battle up front.

Championship Shake-Up

Oscar Piastri now leads the Drivers’ Championship with 99 points, ahead of teammate Norris (89) and Verstappen (87). McLaren continues to extend its advantage in the Constructors’ standings with 151 points, well ahead of Mercedes and Red Bull. With three different winners in the opening five rounds and frequent swings in form, 2025 is rapidly becoming one of the most unpredictable title fights in recent memory.

Looking Ahead: Miami

Formula 1 now heads to the United States for the Miami Grand Prix — the second sprint weekend of the season. The fast, technical layout of the Miami International Autodrome will add another layer of strategy and pressure as the championship race intensifies.

McLaren arrives as the team to beat, but Verstappen will be hungry to reassert his authority, while Ferrari and Mercedes will be aiming to capitalize on any slip-ups. With the standings tighter than ever, Miami promises another chapter in what’s quickly becoming a closer-than-ever F1 season.