Oscar Piastri has rocketed to the top of the Formula 1 world, but you wouldn’t know it from his calm demeanor. After a commanding win at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix—his third victory in just five races this season—the 24-year-old McLaren driver became the first Australian to lead the F1 championship since 2010. Yet, as fireworks faded over Jeddah, Piastri made it clear: he’s proud of the work, not the headlines, and his focus is firmly on the long game.
“I’m not that bothered by the fact that I’m leading the championship, but I’m proud of the work and the reasons behind why we’re leading,” Piastri said, reflecting on a breakthrough start to his third F1 season. “Melbourne wasn’t a great start in terms of results. But from the moment I’ve hit the track this year, I’ve felt in a good place. Leading the championship is a result of all the hard work we’ve done in the off-season, the hard work I’ve done personally, the hard work the team’s done. I’m more proud of all those things than I am of the fact that I’m leading the championship—because, ultimately, I want to be leading it after round 24, not round five.”
A Night of High Stakes and High Drama in Jeddah
The Saudi Arabian GP was anything but routine. Piastri started alongside pole-sitter Max Verstappen, and the two went wheel-to-wheel into Turn 1. Verstappen initially held the advantage, but a five-second penalty for leaving the track handed the strategic edge to McLaren. Piastri’s perfectly timed pit stop allowed him to leapfrog Verstappen and control the race from the front, even as the Dutchman closed in during the final laps.
Piastri’s victory was not only a personal milestone but also a historic one for Australia, ending a 15-year drought since Mark Webber last led the championship. With teammate Lando Norris finishing fourth and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc rounding out the podium, McLaren now holds a commanding position in both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ standings.
A New Era, But No Complacency
Despite his rapid rise, Piastri remains grounded. “I want to be leading after the final race, not just now,” he reiterated, signaling that his ambitions stretch far beyond the early-season headlines. Verstappen himself acknowledged the threat: “He’s very calm in his approach, and I like that. It shows on track. He delivers when he has to, barely makes mistakes—and that’s what you need when you want to fight for a championship.”
Championship Standings After Saudi Arabia
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Oscar Piastri (McLaren): 99 points
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Lando Norris (McLaren): 89 points
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Max Verstappen (Red Bull): 87 points
As the F1 circus heads to Miami, Piastri’s rivals know they’re up against a driver who’s not just fast, but fiercely focused. The Australian’s message is clear: the only lead that matters is the one at the end of the season—and he’s just getting started.
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