Breaking: FIA make LATE CHANGE to Saudi GP order as… Read more
The FIA has officially confirmed the final classification of the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, following a dramatic and controversial race held at the high-speed Jeddah Corniche Circuit. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri emerged as the race winner, holding off a fierce challenge from reigning world champion Max Verstappen in an event that featured plenty of on-track drama, time penalties, and late post-race changes.
Piastri’s Breakthrough Victory
Oscar Piastri claimed his first victory of the 2025 Formula 1 season in a composed and calculated performance, leading from early on and managing his pace expertly. The young Australian was able to fend off Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who crossed the finish line in second but had been hit with a five-second time penalty early in the race. The penalty stemmed from a first-lap incident in which Verstappen, starting from pole, ran wide into Turn 1 and rejoined the track while attempting to stay ahead of Piastri—an action the stewards deemed unfair.
Despite the setback, Verstappen managed to minimize the damage to his championship hopes with a strong drive, keeping Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc at bay throughout the race. Leclerc, however, had an excellent outing of his own, securing third place and showing strong pace around the tight and twisting street circuit.
Norris Loses Championship Lead
McLaren’s dominance was further demonstrated by Lando Norris, who recovered from a poor qualifying session to finish fourth. Although his effort was commendable, it wasn’t enough to retain his lead in the drivers’ championship standings. With Piastri’s win, the Australian now overtakes Norris at the top of the table, marking a potential power shift in McLaren’s internal battle.
George Russell continued to perform reliably for Mercedes, securing fifth place after a largely uneventful race, while his young teammate Kimi Antonelli impressed with a sixth-place finish—another solid result in the rookie’s debut season.
Ferrari veteran Lewis Hamilton, now in red after his switch from Mercedes, ended the day in seventh, just ahead of new Williams driver Carlos Sainz. Sainz finished eighth after a steady drive, while his teammate Alex Albon followed closely in ninth, bringing both Williams cars into the points.
Rounding out the top ten was Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar, who scored a valuable point after a consistent performance.
Post-Race Penalties Shake Up Order
However, the final classification was not without late drama. Liam Lawson, formerly Verstappen’s teammate and now driving for Racing Bulls, was handed a 10-second time penalty after the race. The penalty was issued due to an incident involving Alpine’s Jack Doohan, in which Lawson left the track during a position battle. The time addition dropped Lawson from what would have been 10th place to 12th, pushing Hadjar into the final points-paying position.
The FIA’s decision to apply the penalty post-race added another layer of complexity to an already tense Grand Prix. With Lawson demoted, both Haas drivers—Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon—moved up a place, finishing 13th and 14th respectively.
Rest of the Field
Nico Hulkenberg and Lance Stroll finished a lap down in 15th and 16th for Sauber and Aston Martin, respectively, while Jack Doohan—despite his involvement in Lawson’s penalty—could only manage 17th for Alpine. His teammate Pierre Gasly did not finish the race, joining Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda in the DNF category. Gabriel Bortoleto rounded out the finishers in 18th, also a lap down in the second Sauber.
Final Race Classification (Top 10)
1. Oscar Piastri – McLaren
2. Max Verstappen – Red Bull (+2.843s, 5s penalty applied)
3. Charles Leclerc – Ferrari (+8.104s)
4. Lando Norris – McLaren (+9.196s)
5. George Russell – Mercedes (+27.236s)
6. Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes (+34.688s)
7. Lewis Hamilton – Ferrari (+39.073s)
8. Carlos Sainz – Williams (+1:04.630)
9. Alex Albon – Williams (+1:06.515)
10. Isack Hadjar – Racing Bulls (+1:07.091)
Looking Ahead
The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix provided high-speed action, unexpected outcomes, and crucial championship implications. With Piastri now leading the drivers’ standings and Verstappen continuing to fight hard despite setbacks, the 2025 season is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent memory. All eyes now turn to the next round, where tensions will no doubt continue to build as the title race heats up.
