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The Independent
20-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
Oscar Piastri wins Saudi Arabian GP after controversial Max Verstappen penalty
Oscar Piastri moved ahead of Lando Norris and into the F1 drivers' championship lead with victory at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix as Max Verstappen paid the price for a first-lap penalty. Pole-sitter Verstappen was penalised for cutting the corner at turn one to stay ahead of Piastri, allowing the McLaren man to jump in front at the pit stops and he never looked back. Piastri made it back-to-back wins and three for the season to move 10 points ahead of team-mate Norris at the top of the standings – the first Australian to lead since Mark Webber in 2010. Norris labelled himself a 'f*****g idiot' after crashing in qualifying and admitted he'd made life difficult for himself starting from 10th. But he limited the damage with a strong race to finish fourth and is two points ahead of Verstappen. Charles Leclerc claimed third for Ferrari with Mercedes' George Russell fifth. Verstappen's Red Bull future dominated the pre-race build-up after a disappointing weekend in Bahrain sparked more speculation that he may wish to leave the team. The four-time world champion banished that talk and issues with his car with a flawless lap to take pole on Saturday. Every previous race this season, including China's sprint, had been won from pole but Piastri made an early bid to change that as he got a great launch off the line and moved to the inside of Verstappen. The Dutchman dived across the run-off area and stayed ahead, with Piastri on the radio to say: 'He needs to give that back, I was ahead.' Verstappen's view was: 'He forced me off, there was no intention from him to make that corner.' TOP-10 - SAUDI ARABIAN GRAND PRIX The stewards sided with Piastri as Verstappen received a five-second penalty. 'Well that is f*****g lovely,' said Verstappen. Further back, Yuki Tsunoda and Pierre Gasly banged wheels and were both out – forcing a first-lap safety car. Verstappen got the jump on Piastri at the restart as the McLaren was forced to defend from Russell. Piastri pitted on lap 19, trailing by nearly three seconds, with Verstappen in two laps later. The Dutchman served his penalty and emerged three seconds behind. On his out lap, Piastri completed a sensational overtake on Lewis Hamilton. Once he gained clean air ahead of Verstappen, Piastri showcased the might of the McLaren to cruise to victory. Norris had moved up two places courtesy of the first-lap crash and was soon up to seventh by passing Carlos Sainz but found Lewis Hamilton a tougher task. For two laps running, Norris moved ahead only for Hamilton to hit back with DRS down the main straight. On lap 15, Norris got the job done to claim sixth. Norris and Leclerc both ran long first stints and the Ferrari man used his fresh rubber to pass Russell to take third with 13 laps remaining. Russell was struggling and was soon reeled in by Norris, who blasted past at the start of lap 41 to secure fourth. Hamilton came home where he started, taking seventh for Ferrari.
Web Release
20-04-2025
- Automotive
- Web Release
Super Max Verstappen secures sensational pole in Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Entertainment Web Release Selection By Editor_wr On Apr 20, 2025 In a thrilling Qualifying held under the floodlights, Red Bull's Max Verstappen stormed to pole position for the FORMULA 1 STC SAUDI ARABIAN GRAND PRIX. The reigning World Champion edged out McLaren's Oscar Piastri by just 0.01 seconds with a stunning lap of 1m27.294s — the fastest ever recorded around the Jeddah Corniche Circuit — at an average speed of 254.615 km/h. 'The car came alive in the night,' said a delighted Verstappen. Mercedes' George Russell took third, while the biggest shock of the session was Lando Norris crashing out at Turn 5. After running wide over the kerb, Norris lost control and hit the wall — bringing out the red flags and ensuring he'll start today's race from tenth on the grid. With a rapid McLaren beneath him, the Championship leader could still be a major factor when the lights go out at 8pm tonight. Just behind the top three, Charles Leclerc will line up fourth for Ferrari, with Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli impressing once again in fifth. As the sun set over the Red Sea last night, 17-year-old Red Bull Junior Arvid Lindblad made history by becoming the youngest ever Formula 2 race winner. He inherited the win after Richard Verschoor, who had crossed the line first, was handed a five-second penalty for forcing Josep María Martí off track at Turn 1. Lindblad had earlier passed his Campos team-mate Martí for second — a move that became the race-winning overtake once Verschoor's penalty was applied. Jak Crawford was the race's only retirement after a spin and he'll be looking to turn his fortunes around when he starts on pole for the Feature Race at 4.25pm later today. In F1 ACADEMY, McLaren's Ella Lloyd delivered a commanding performance to take her first win. Starting on the front row, she seized the lead at Turn 1 and never looked back. After a Safety Car restart, Lloyd pulled clear to take victory ahead of Ferrari's Maya Weug and Alisha Palmowski. Despite receiving a five-second penalty for a false start, Wild Card entrant Farah AlYousef finished 16th. Later this afternoon, Chloe Chambers will be chasing her own moment of glory as she starts from pole in Race 2 at 3.05pm. Off-track, the weekend has been just as spectacular. On Saturday night, global icon Jennifer Lopez lit up the Fan Zone with a headline performance. The multi-platinum A-lister thrilled the crowd with a high-energy set packed with hits. And more stars are set to shine tonight. After the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, R&B legend Usher will take to the main stage to close out the event. Known for his chart-topping anthems, he's expected to deliver an unforgettable finale for the fans in Jeddah. The stage is set for another thrilling race under the lights at a circuit known for its speed, unpredictability and spectacle. All eyes are on Jeddah for the fifth edition of the FORMULA 1 STC SAUDI ARABIAN GRAND PRIX which starts at 8pm. To discover more about the FORMULA 1 SAUDI ARABIAN GRAND PRIX 2025, please visit Follow us on social: Twitter: @SaudiArabianGP Instagram: @saudiarabiangp Super Max Verstappen secures sensational pole in Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Comments are closed.
