In an exhilarating race in Saudi Arabia, Oscar Piastri claimed his third victory of the season on Sunday evening, following wins in China and Bahrain. With his triumph at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, the McLaren driver takes over the World Championship lead from his teammate Lando Norris. Max Verstappen finished second in the thrilling race, largely due to a controversial time penalty. Lando Norris was flagged off in fourth place.
Here is a bird’s eye view of the Saudi Arabian GP:
ROUND 1/50: On the first starting row, Oscar Piastri gets off to a good start from P2. He seems to outsmart Max Verstappen on pole, but the Red Bull driver doesn’t flinch heading into the first corner. Verstappen maintains the lead, but does so by cutting the corner. He is forced to, as Piastri gives him no room.
Furthermore, Pierre Gasly (Alpine) and Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls) collide hard and crash into the wall. This results in the first safety car situation of the race and the end of the race for them.
Restart and Time Penalty
4/50: At the restart, Verstappen is in the lead, but receives a five-second time penalty because, according to the stewards, he gained an advantage by leaving the track after the start. The penalty is somewhat controversial, as it was clearly visible that Verstappen was forced off the track.
14/50: Max Verstappen immediately goes full throttle to build a five-second margin on the pursuers. Piastri stays in the slipstream of the Dutchman, but behind him, Mercedes driver George Russell hovers around the five-second mark. Behind them, Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris are battling for P6. After two failed attempts, Norris overtakes his compatriot.
20/50: Oscar Piastri comes in for his first stop and tries an undercut on Verstappen. Verstappen himself continues. Piastri’s pit stop is not the best due to problems on the left rear and takes 3.4 seconds.
Verstappen’s Pit Stop and Race Progress
22/50: Verstappen makes a pit stop. The time penalty is served and the stop is well-executed, but he re-enters the track behind Piastri and Hamilton (who has not yet made a pit stop). Shortly after, Verstappen overtakes the Brit, with a gap of 3.8 seconds to Piastri. Charles Leclerc and Norris are in P1 and P2, but they have yet to make their first pit stop.
Alonso’s Near Collision
26/50: At the back of the pack, Gabriel Bortoleto (Stake) nearly forces Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) into the wall. The Spaniard escapes unscathed, but his position (sixteenth) will hardly cheer him up. Only Bortoleto and Bearman are still behind him.
Norris’s Pit Stop and Race Progress
34/50: Race leader Lando Norris makes his first pit stop, swapping his hard tires for the medium compound. He does this just as his teammate Piastri begins to struggle with driving in dirty air. Behind the new leader Piastri, Verstappen follows at a distance of 4.5 seconds.
42/50: Norris is making a comeback and is now behind Charles Leclerc in P4. The stewards investigated a sloppy pit lane exit by Norris, but decided not to penalize him.
Norris’s Comeback
50/50: Piastri is flagged as the winner of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The Australian made no mistakes and once again proved himself a cool-headed challenger to Max Verstappen in the title race. Behind Piastri, the equally flawless Verstappen finishes second, more than three seconds behind, followed by Leclerc, Norris, Russell, Antonelli, Lewis Hamilton, Sainz, Albon, and Hadjar.
