McLaren's Oscar Piastri claimed back-to-back victories with a composed drive at the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix, taking full advantage of a time penalty handed to Red Bull's Max Verstappen to control the race and extend his lead in the drivers’ standings.

Verstappen had started from pole in Jeddah on Sunday but was given a five-second penalty for illegally holding the lead from Piastri by cutting the track in the first corner of the race. 

The stewards ruled he had gained an unfair advantage, despite Verstappen's claims that he had been forced off track by the Australian.

After serving his penalty during his pit stop, Verstappen rejoined in second place but was unable to make up the gap. Piastri had tracked the Dutchman closely during the first stint and managed the remainder of the race expertly, crossing the line 2.8 seconds ahead.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc kept pace and put himself in contention for a podium finish, claiming third place despite a late charge from Lando Norris. 

Norris finished just behind in fourth after climbing from tenth on the grid. Starting on hard tyres, he led briefly during the pit cycle and was closing in on Leclerc in the final stages, but the Ferrari driver was able to hold him back as his medium tyres began to fade.

Piastri picked up his third victory in five races so far following wins in China and Bahrain, giving him a 10-point buffer over second-placed Norris in the drivers' championship, while Verstappen sits not far behind in third.

OSCAR PIASTRI WINS IN JEDDAH!! 

The McLaren driver clinches the victory from Max Verstappen in P2 and Charles Leclerc in P3 #F1 #SaudiArabianGP pic.twitter.com/WD1DhdRe3H

— Formula 1 (@F1) April 20, 2025

Verstappen acknowledged that it would be challenging to hold Piastri back after taking such an unexpected and impressive pole position, and it proved true as the two were neck and neck going into the first corner.

Piastri got the stronger launch and was able to hold onto a 4.8-second lead following Verstappen serving his penalty.

It wasn't entirely easy going for the McLaren driver though, as he found himself held up by Aston Martin's Lance Stroll, but he was eventually able to edge away.

While Verstappen held second comfortably, there was a tussle for third as Leclerc looked to move past Mercedes' George Russell.

Leclerc's long opening stint on medium tyres allowed him to leapfrog Russell after pitting on lap 29, and he passed the Mercedes driver shortly after rejoining the track.

Norris sealed fourth after passing Russell on lap 41, forcing the Brit to settle for a fifth-place finish.

Further back, Andrea Kimi Antonelli brought his Mercedes home in sixth, with Lewis Hamilton, still finding his feet at Ferrari, settling for seventh.

Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon secured solid points for Williams in eighth and ninth, with rookie Isack Hadjar rounding out the top ten for Racing Bulls.

Change at the top 

Let's take a look at the drivers' standings  #F1 #SaudiArabianGP pic.twitter.com/iycSsPlplb

— Formula 1 (@F1) April 20, 2025

Data Debrief: Piastri showcases championship potential

Many put Norris as the favourite for this year's drivers' title, but Piastri has shown already this season that he is world championship material.

Piastri has achieved his fifth Formula One win, three in 2025 after taking just two in the whole of 2024. He is the 57th driver in history with at least five wins.

After his victory in Bahrain, Piastri has made it two wins in a row for the first time in his career. He is the fifth Australian to do so in F1 history, after Jack Brabham (twice), Alan Jones (three times), Mark Webber (once) and Daniel Ricciardo (once, the last to do so in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in 2014).

Thanks to Piastri's win, McLaren have now achieved four wins in the first five races of the year, something they had not achieved since 1998 (also four in the first five), the last year in which they won both the constructors' and drivers' championship with Mika Hakkinen.

TOP 10

1. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

4. Lando Norris (McLaren)

5. George Russell (Mercedes)

6. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)

7. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)

8. Carlos Sainz (Williams)

9. Alex Albon (Williams)

10. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

Drivers'

1. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 99

2. Lando Norris (McLaren) – 89

3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 87

Constructors'

1. McLaren – 188

2. Mercedes – 111

3. Red Bull – 89