Oscar Piastri has surged to the top of the drivers` championship standings after a commanding performance at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Sunday, securing his third win of the season.
The race in Jeddah was filled with drama, starting with a safety car deployment on the first lap due to a collision between Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda, forcing both drivers to retire early.
Championship contender Max Verstappen received a five-second penalty for gaining an advantage by leaving the track while battling Piastri for position. Following the second round of pit stops and after serving his penalty, Verstappen rejoined the race behind Piastri.
The pit stop phase saw Piastri emerge as the race leader, while Lando Norris impressively recovered to fifth place after starting tenth due to a qualifying crash.
Key Moments of the Race:
- Safety car was triggered on Lap 1 when Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda collided, ending their races.
- Max Verstappen incurred a five-second penalty for track limits violation while overtaking Piastri.
- After pit stops, Verstappen rejoined behind Piastri, losing track position due to the penalty.
- Lando Norris climbed up to fifth place after starting from P10, showcasing strong race pace.
- Oscar Piastri clinched victory, followed by Verstappen and Charles Leclerc completing the podium.
The Formula 1 season continues with the Miami Grand Prix on May 4th for the sixth round of the championship.
