Oscar Piastri wins the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and takes the lead in the F1 World Championship, while Verstappen finishes in second place. The race was marked by low tire degradation, which prevented any alternatives from emerging. Carlos Sainz completes a great race and continues to show improvements with the FW47. Fernando Alonso just misses out on the points.
Piastri, victory and World Championship leader
Oscar Piastri took his third World Championship victory, moves into the lead, and more importantly, presents himself as a clear candidate to be the leader of McLaren. He started second, took the lead at the start, but Verstappen did not make it easy for him. The New Zealander passed him on the outside, jumping the curve. He was given a five-second penalty, handing the race to the young driver, who held on behind him until the pit stop put him in front. McLaren remains solid at the top of the constructors’ championship, but an internal problem with its drivers is growing.
Norris made up the positions he lost in qualifying, McLaren is very strong and he had no trouble reaching fifth place. He started on hard tires and finished the race on mediums, flying in search of a top-three finish that would allow him to maintain second place in the world championship. He finished fourth and the war at McLaren is well and truly on.
Verstappen keeps Red Bull going
Max Verstappen continues to give it his all to make Red Bull look like it still has a good car. The penalty for his maneuver at the start did not distract him. He took second place in the race and fought until the last corner. He managed to finish close behind Piastri and could have won if he had not received the penalty.
Alonso squeezes the most out of the Aston Martin
Aston Martin once again highlighted the problems it has been struggling with since the start of the season. Alonso managed to gain three positions at the start, two of them thanks to the accident involving Gasly and Tsunoda, but from then on, the AMR25 showed its shortcomings and lost positions. He was hampered by the Safety Car in the early laps. After his pit stop, he was left behind those who decided to pit during the safety car period. He had a big scare with Bortoleto, but he was able to get the most out of the AMR25, which allowed him to regain positions on the track. It was another display of skill from the Asturian with the slowest car on the grid at the fastest circuit of the championship. His best race so far this year, but it wasn’t enough to finish in the points.
The best Carlos Sainz of the season
Carlos Sainz continues to take steps forward with the FW47. He lost two positions at the start to Hamilton and Norris, as expected, and his race was compromised by a bad pit stop that cost him four valuable seconds and four positions. From that moment on, he showed his best form, regained the lost positions and managed to finish the race in eighth place. The Madrid native is a different driver, getting closer to his best and most complete form. He had his best Grand Prix of the season so far. He also held off Albon with DRS at the end of the race to prevent his teammate from being overtaken and secure ninth place, earning two more points for the team.
Leclerc takes Ferrari to its first podium
Charles Leclerc completed a great race to secure Ferrari’s first podium finish in F1 (not counting Hamilton’s sprint victory in China). The Italian team has needed several races to get on the podium. It has been tough, but little by little, the Italian team is improving.