Introduction
Oscar Piastri has clinched his third victory of the season with a composed and commanding efficiency on the 2025 Method 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, seizing the lead within the Drivers’ Championship and making historical past as the primary Australian to high the standings since Mark Webber in 2010.
Early Drama in Jeddah
The race on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit bought off to a dramatic begin as pole-sitter Max Verstappen and Piastri went wheel-to-wheel into Flip 1, with Verstappen controversially reducing the apex. Although the Dutchman initially retained the lead, he was later handed a five-second time penalty for the manoeuvre, which in the end price him dearly throughout his pit cease.
Strategic Masterclass from McLaren
Whereas Piastri bided his time, teammate Lando Norris briefly inherited the lead by stretching his first stint on laborious tyres following a crash in Saturday’s Qualifying. As soon as Norris boxed for mediums, Piastri reclaimed the lead and by no means appeared again, cruising to the end 2.8 seconds forward of Verstappen’s Crimson Bull.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc accomplished the rostrum in third, claiming his first top-three end of the 2025 season.
Norris Prices Again, Mercedes Constant
Regardless of a valiant chase for the rostrum, Norris needed to accept fourth. George Russell and rising star Kimi Antonelli introduced house stable outcomes for Mercedes in fifth and sixth, whereas Lewis Hamilton added extra factors to Ferrari’s marketing campaign with a seventh-place end.
Double Factors for Williams
It was additionally a standout day for Williams, with Carlos Sainz ending eighth – his greatest outcome but for the Grove-based staff – and Alex Albon securing ninth after keeping off a spirited problem from Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar.
Additional Down the Grid
Fernando Alonso continued his point-less streak, ending eleventh for Aston Martin.
Liam Lawson (P12) picked up a 10-second penalty for an off-track benefit in a scrap with Jack Doohan.
The Haas duo of Ollie Bearman and Esteban Ocon got here house thirteenth and 14th, respectively.
Nico Hülkenberg (Kick Sauber), Lance Stroll (Aston Martin), Jack Doohan (Alpine), and Gabriel Bortoleto (Kick Sauber) rounded out the labeled runners.
Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda had been the one retirees, each eradicated in a Lap 1 collision that triggered an early Security Automotive.
A Historic Milestone for Piastri
With this victory, Oscar Piastri now leads the championship by 10 factors over teammate Norris, marking a brand new chapter within the Australian’s already exceptional F1 journey. It’s additionally a proud second for his supervisor, Mark Webber, who was the final Australian to steer the standings, precisely 15 years in the past.
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Mario Isola, Motorsport Director, Pirelli:
The 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix met our pre-race expectations with regard to tyre efficiency and strategic outcomes. Regardless of introducing a softer trio of compounds in comparison with final 12 months and dealing with larger observe temperatures averaging 7°C, degradation on the C3 and C4 tyres remained remarkably low. This allowed the race to unfold naturally, showcasing the carefully matched competitiveness amongst groups.
Whereas there have been remoted situations of blistering on the left entrance tyre, these didn’t considerably have an effect on total efficiency. Some vehicles skilled challenges with overheating, which was anticipated given the observe’s demanding circumstances the place tyres have minimal alternative to chill down.
As we take a second to regroup, the following problem awaits us on a unique continent — the debut race of the season in Miami, USA. The upcoming circuit presents distinctive traits in comparison with Jeddah, with groups as soon as once more utilizing the softer tyre compounds from this occasion. This race marks the second Dash weekend of the 12 months, including an intriguing dynamic to how groups will strategise and adapt to the observe’s calls for.
The day on the observe:
The grid noticed a number of sudden decisions, including a component of intrigue to the race. Solely 4 drivers (Norris, Stroll, Hadjar, and Hulkenberg) opted for the Laborious for the primary stint, whereas the remaining 16 went for the Medium. The component of shock continued as three of those drivers (Doohan, Ocon and Bortoleto) seized the chance of the primary lap Security Automotive, a results of the collision between Gasly and Tsunoda, to modify to the Laborious.
The methods chosen matched our pre-race expectations relating to the variety of stops and the timing of the pit cease home windows. Of the highest groups, the one ones that attempted one thing totally different had been Leclerc, who went so long as attainable on his first stint on Mediums (lap 29), a method aimed toward gaining observe place, and Norris, who began on the Laborious, pitting on lap 34, a method that allowed him to have an extended last stint. The longest stint of 49 laps was accomplished by Ocon (Haas), who stopped on the very starting after which went to the chequered flag.
2025 Method 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Race Outcomes
PosNoDriverCountryTeamTimePointsOverall
1.81Oscar PiastriAustraliaMcLaren Racing1:21:06.7582599
2.1Max VerstappenNetherlandsRed Bull Racing+2.843s1887
3.16Charles LeclercMonacoScuderia Ferrari+8.104s1547
44Lando NorrisGreat BritainMclaren Racing+9.196s1289
5.63George RussellGreat BritainMercedes-AMG Petronas+27.236s1073
6.12Kimi AntonelliItalyMercedes-AMG Petronas+34.688s838
7.44Lewis HamiltonGreat BritainScuderia Ferrari+39.073s631
8.55Carlos SainzSpainWilliams Racing+64.630s45
9.23Alexander AlbonThailandWilliams Racing+66.515s220
10.6Isack HadjarFranceVisa Money App F1 Crew+67.091s15
11.14Fernando AlonsoSpainAston Martin F1 Crew+75.917s00
12.30Liam LawsonNew ZealandVisa Money App F1 Crew+78.451s00
13.87Oliver BearmanGreat BritainHaas F1 Crew+79.194s06
14.31Esteban OconFranceHaas F1 Crew+99.723s014
15.27Nico HulkenbergGermanyKick Sauber F1 Crew+1 lap06
16.18Lance StrollCanadaAston Martin F1 Crew+1 lap010
17.7Jack DoohanAustraliaAlpine F1 Crew+1 lap00
18.5Gabriel BortoletoBrazilKick Sauber F1 Crew+1 lap00
12.22Yuki TsunodaJapanRed Bull RacingDNF05
13.10Pierre GaslyFranceAlpine F1 TeamDNF06
2025 Constructor Standings
PosTeamPoints
1.McLaren Racing188
2.Mercedes-AMG Petronas111
3.Crimson Bull Racing89
4.Scuderia Ferrari78
4.Williams Racing25
6.Haas F1 Team20
7.Aston Martin F1 Team10
8.Visa Money App F1 Team6
8.Kick Sauber F1 Team6
10.Alpine F1 Team6
Listed here are the team-by-team highlights:
