F1 News: Piastri wins GP of Saudi Arabia because of Verstappen penalty

Race officials handed Max Verstappen a 5-second penalty for cutting the Turn 1 corner at the start, and although he was the fastest car on the track, Oscar Piastri took the lead at the pitstops and held on to win the GP of Saudi Arabia for McLaren.

While the Dutchman initially held the lead, a five-second time penalty for the maneuver saw him drop behind the McLaren man after serving the punishment at his pit stop.

The Australian becomes the new Drivers’ Championship leader with his third win and his first around the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

From there Piastri was untroubled at the front, taking the checkered flag by 2.8s from the Red Bull of Verstappen, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc claimed his maiden podium of the season.

After crashing in qualifying on Saturday, Lando Norris had to settle for fourth, despite trying to chase down Leclerc until the end.

The Mercedes pair of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli were fifth and sixth respectively. Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, added to Ferrari’s points tally in seventh.

The Williams pair of Carlos Sainz Jr and Alex Albon were 8th and 9th while Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar rounded out the top-10.

Two drivers failed to make the checkered flag, with Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda suffering an early exit after colliding in a first-lap incident that triggered a Safety Car.

Piastri has taken the lead in the championship by 10 points from teammate Norris, with Verstappen two markers further back.

2025 GP of Saudi Arabia Results

* Provisional results. Note – Lawson received a 10-second time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.