Oscar Piastri secured his third victory of the 2025 season in a thrilling Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, finishing ahead of Max Verstappen, who was penalized for a first-lap incident. The Australian’s win, which propelled him to 99 points in the Drivers’ Championship, marked a significant moment, as Piastri now leads the standings for the first time this season.
Verstappen, despite the penalty, took second place in the race, while Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton struggled once again, finishing seventh—over half a minute behind teammate Charles Leclerc, who claimed the final spot on the podium.
Max Verstappen’s Reaction to Penalty
Verstappen, who started from pole, was handed a five-second penalty after the race stewards determined he gained an advantage by leaving the track during his battle with Piastri on the opening lap. While the Red Bull driver initially protested the decision, accusing Piastri of forcing him off track, he later refrained from commenting too much to avoid further penalties for criticizing the authorities.
“It happened very fast, and I can’t really say much about it because anything I say could get me into trouble,” Verstappen explained in the post-race press conference. “It’s frustrating, but you can’t share your opinions anymore. The world has changed, and it’s better not to say anything.”
Despite the penalty, Verstappen’s punishment could have been more severe, as the stewards clarified that the baseline penalty for gaining an advantage by leaving the track is typically 10 seconds. However, considering it occurred during the first lap, they deemed it a mitigating factor and imposed a lighter penalty.
Ferrari’s Struggles Continue for Hamilton
Meanwhile, Hamilton’s struggles with Ferrari persisted in Jeddah. The 40-year-old driver expressed frustration over his performance, admitting that he couldn’t extract the car’s full potential during the race. “In qualifying, I was doing everything I could to extract performance, but the car just wasn’t fast enough in the race,” Hamilton said. He added that he felt his difficulties would persist through the season. “It’s going to be painful for the rest of the year,” he predicted. “There’s no fix right now. I’ll probably struggle in Miami too.”
Praise for Piastri
Amid the drama, Verstappen took the opportunity to praise Piastri for his consistency and maturity, acknowledging that the McLaren driver had executed his strategy flawlessly in Jeddah. “Oscar’s been solid from the start,” Verstappen said. “He’s calm, makes few mistakes, and that’s what you need to do when fighting for championships. He’s growing into a strong contender.”
Other Notable Moments from the Saudi GP
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Toto Wolff’s Criticism: Mercedes’ Toto Wolff voiced his displeasure with the upcoming F1 Commission meeting agenda, which will address potential changes to the 2026 engine regulations. Wolff described the agenda as “a joke” after attempts to reintroduce V10 engines were dismissed.
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Grid Walk Incident: Martin Brundle’s grid walk interview with NFL star Russell Okung was cut short after Okung tried to promote Bitcoin, which went against Sky Sports’ advertising policies.
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George Russell’s Concerns: Mercedes’ George Russell raised concerns about inadequate lighting at a section of the Saudi track, which he says has been ignored by the FIA for years.
Looking Ahead:
As the dust settles after a dramatic race, Piastri’s win marks a turning point in the championship race. Formula 1 heads next to Miami for another Sprint weekend from May 4. Fans are hoping for even more excitement as the battle between the top drivers intensifies.
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