Oscar Piastri won the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and claimed the championship lead for the first time in his career.

The McLaren driver won from second on the grid, moving ahead of Max Verstappen when the pole-winner was penalised for leaving the track to re-pass Piastri at the start. Piastri got off the line more quickly than the Red Bull driver and nosed ahead of him approaching the first corner, only for Verstappen to cut it and rejoin the track ahead.

Verstappen’s penalty was announced soon afterwards but he did not have to serve it until he made his only pit stop of the race. Piastri came in before him, and despite having to pick his way past Lewis Hamilton, easily had enough time in hand to claim the lead.

They finished in that order, with Charles Leclerc claiming Ferrari’s first podium finish of the season in third place. He resisted a late charge by Lando Norris, who rose from 10th on the grid to finish fourth, after taking three laps to find a way past Hamilton early on.

George Russell started third but was unable to challenge the leaders and fell back to fifth. He was concerned about the state of his tyres in the final laps, but took the chequered flag ahead of his team mate Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

Hamilton came seventh behind the driver who took over his Mercedes seat. The final points-scoring positions were occupied by the Williams drivers, Carlos Sainz Jnr ahead of Alexander Albon, and Isack Hadjar’s Racing Bulls, the trio flying in close formation.

Liam Lawson crossed the line in 11th place but fell behind Fernando Alonso after collecting a 10-second time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage. The Haas pair were next, Oliver Bearman ahead of Esteban Ocon after the pair were told to swap places.

Pierre Gasly and Yuki Tsunoda were the race’s only retirements after colliding on the first lap of the race, which triggered a brief Safety Car period.

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