Formula 1 in Saudi Arabia
Piatri dupies offset-and takes over the World Cup lead
Updated on April 20, 2025 – 8:30 p.m.Reading time: 3 min.
At the Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia there is a controversial scene at the start. In the end, the reigning world champion is left behind.
Oscar Piatri won the Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia, taking over the leadership in the World Cup ranking. The McLaren pilot, rid of second place, prevailed against world champion Max Verstappen, who had secured the pole position, and celebrated his second racing victory in a row and third tr.
Right at the start, Piatri sat next to Verstappen. The Dutch only asserted himself by abbrevating the first curve. To do this, he collected a five-second penalty, which he had at the first pit stop, and thereby lost the lead to Piatri. As a result, the McLaren confidently drove home. The podium completed Charles Leclerc in Ferrari.
After a crash in qualifying, the previous World Cup leading Lando Norris had only started from tenth place and had to lead to damage limitation. In the end, it was enough for the McLaren pilot for fourth place.
The Emmerich Nico Hülkenberg meanwhile had to cope with its fourth zero number in a row, from starting place 18 there wasn’t much going on for the clean pilot. His bolide was again not a point arrangement, the 37-year-old ended the race in 15th place.
“I think it will definitely be a hard fight,” Verstappen said in advance. The 27-year-old had to lead a hard duel a few seconds after the start. Side by side thundered Verstappen and Piatri towards the first curve. But there wasn’t enough space for both racing cars, the red bull star removed and stayed in front. Further back in the crashes field in Verstappen’s teammate Yuki Tsunoda and Pierre Gasly in the Alpine.
The Safety Car came on the track, Piatri immediately sparked: “He has to give me back my position, he would never have got the curve”. Verstappen, on the other hand, kept: “He pushed me out of the route”. Nevertheless, he got a five-second penalty.
Verstappen cleverly put on the restart and initially built a gap to Piatri. The longer the race ran, the more it became clear that the Red Bull is on the track on the outside. Piatri got difficulties and slowly but surely lost time to the leading one. Russell had to be completely demolished as a preliminary third. Behind it, Norris continued to fight through the tight midfield in fifth place.
Piatri was the first of the top drivers to the box in round 20. Meanwhile, Verstappen was cheered on by his racing engineer Gianpiero Lambiase: “Give everything you have,” he sparked, and called his protégé two laps later than the McLaren competitor to change the tire. Piatri now passed because of the retirement of the time penalty. Leclerc temporarily took the lead before Norris.
When they also completed their stops, Piatri took the lead again with just over four seconds. There he was able to operate optimal tire management through a vorigia in advance “I think it will definitely be a tough fight,” Verstappen had said in advance. The 27-year-old had to lead a hard duel a few seconds after the start. Side by side thundered Verstappen and Piatri towards the first curve. But there wasn’t enough space for both racing cars, the red bull star removed and stayed in front. A few curves later, Verstappen’s teammate Yuki Tsunoda and Pierre Gasly crash in the alpine.
The Safety Car came on the track, Piatri immediately sparked: “He has to give me back my position, he would never have got the curve”. Verstappen, on the other hand, kept: “He pushed me out of the route”. Nevertheless, he got a five-second penalty.
Verstappen cleverly put on the restart and initially built a gap to Piatri. The longer the race ran, the more it became clear that the Red Bull is on the track on the outside. Piatri got difficulties and slowly but surely lost time to the leading one. Russell had to be completely demolished as a preliminary third. Behind it, Norris continued to fight through the tight midfield in fifth place.
Piatri was the first of the top drivers to the box in round 20. Meanwhile, Verstappen was cheered on by his racing engineer Gianpiero Lambiase: “Give everything you have,” he sparked, and called his protégé two laps later than the McLaren competitor to change the tire. Piatri now passed because of the retirement of the time penalty. Leclerc temporarily took the lead before Norris.
When they also completed their stops, Piatri took the lead again with just over four seconds. There he was able to operate optimal tire management through a vorigia in advance and brought the victory home confidently.