2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: Oscar Piastri Wins; Leads Championship

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri won the fifth race of the season and is now the only driver in the 2025 season to have multiple race wins. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who started the race at pole position, came in second, and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc got the Italian team’s first podium in 2025. 

In fourth place was McLaren’s Lando Norris, who had a superb drive in the Grand Prix. Norris started in 10th, after a DNF (Did Not Finish) in the third qualification on Saturday due to an accident. Norris finished just 1.2 seconds behind Leclerc. Mercedes’ George Russell and Kimi Antonelli finished the race in fifth and sixth positions, respectively, followed by Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, Williams’ Carlos Sainz Jr and Alexander Albon in eighth and ninth, respectively, with Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar closing up the top 10. 

Ever since Formula 1 started racing in Saudi Arabia, there has never been a Grand Prix where the Safety Car hasn’t been called out. Right in the first lap, the Safety Car was called out after a collision between Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly. Both drivers had to retire after the incident. 

Verstappen could have been the race winner had it not been for a 5-second penalty handed out to the Dutch driver for leaving the track on the first lap and gaining an advantage over Piastri. Red Bull and Verstappen had to serve the penalty in the pits. Verstappen also won the Driver of the Day. 

Piastri, who was in the second position in the championship until the last race, overtook his teammate Norris to become the championship leader. Piastri has 99 points in the championship, while Norris has 99 points in the championship. He is just two points ahead of Verstappen, who now has 87 points in the championship.