Oscar Piastri has continued his stellar 2025 campaign in Saudi Arabia, claiming his third win of the season and taking the lead in the Formula One World Championship after five races.

The Australian’s performance at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit earned him his latest victory and vaulted him to the top of the standings — the first time an Australian has led the championship in 15 years, since his manager Mark Webber achieved the feat.

The race opened with tension as Piastri and polesitter Max Verstappen went wheel-to-wheel into Turn 1, with Verstappen cutting across the apex. While Verstappen initially held onto the lead, a five-second penalty for the move, combined with McLaren’s strategic pit timing, allowed Piastri to undercut Verstappen and emerge in front.

“It was a pretty tough race. Very, very happy to have obviously won and, yeah, made the difference at the start,” Piastri said.

“I made my case into Turn 1 and that was enough. It was really tricky to follow out there. I couldn’t really stay with Max at the end of the first stint, just chewed up my tyres and then the clean air was nice after the pit stop. So, great race. We did the parts we needed to right. Still need a bit more, I think. Max was a little bit too close for our liking, but a great race and a great weekend.”

Piastri crossed the line 2.8 seconds ahead of Verstappen, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc claimed third. Lando Norris briefly led the race with an alternate tyre strategy and finished fourth, followed by Mercedes duo George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.

The result gives Piastri a 10-point buffer over teammate Norris heading into the Miami Grand Prix from 2–4 May, before the championship heads to Europe.