Oscar Piastri surged to the highest of the Formula One championship on Sunday, clinching his third win of the season on the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after Max Verstappen was penalized for an aggressive opening-lap transfer.
The McLaren driver stored his cool in a tense 50-lap showdown, capitalizing on a five-second penalty handed to Verstappen, who had stormed to pole and appeared poised for back-to-back wins. But a cut-corner lunge in a first-turn battle with Piastri was deemed an excessive amount of by stewards – a name that proved decisive.
“This was won at Turn 1,” Piastri stated. “I made my move, stood my ground. That’s what sealed it.”
The Australian now leads the standings by 10 factors – the primary Aussie since Mark Webber in 2010 to sit down atop the desk – following back-to-back wins and three victories within the final 4 races.
Verstappen, who had climbed to pole in a shock late push throughout qualifying, crossed the road second after serving his penalty throughout his pit cease. But he misplaced additional time battling visitors, together with a quick DRS-fueled scrap with Lewis Hamilton.
“Once I got the inside line, I wasn’t giving up P2,” Verstappen stated over the radio. But in public, the reigning champion selected restraint. “Thanks to the fans in Jeddah. I love this track. The rest… it is what it is.”
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc rounded out the rostrum in third, whereas Lando Norris executed a mighty restoration from P10 to P4 within the different McLaren – a bounce again from his crash in qualifying. Norris made early beneficial properties after a Lap 1 collision between Yuki Tsunoda and Pierre Gasly triggered a security automotive, finally preventing previous Hamilton in a dogged DRS duel.
Piastri’s race turned on technique and execution. He boxed on Lap 19, then swiftly dispatched Hamilton. Verstappen stopped later, served his penalty, and emerged three seconds adrift – however misplaced rhythm caught behind Hamilton’s Mercedes.
Meanwhile, Norris stretched his first stint as McLaren gambled on a second security automotive. It by no means got here. Piastri, sensing his teammate’s future was hampering his airflow, radioed in. Norris lastly pitted, however fourth was all he may salvage.
Behind the highest 4, Mercedes’ George Russell and rookie Kimi Antonelli took fifth and sixth. Hamilton settled for seventh. Williams teammates Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon adopted, whereas Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar scored his maiden level in tenth.
Source: www.dailysabah.com