Oscar does it again, this time in Saudi
There was some controversy over the penalty slapped on Verstappen.
Oscar Piastri drove an impeccable race at the Jeddah circuit in Saudi Arabia last Sunday to win from Max Verstappen by 2.8 seconds.
Verstappen had to serve a five-second penalty for exceeding track limits at the first corner of the race.
The McLaren had the edge on the Red Bull throughout the race but only ended up a short distance ahead at the flag.
We will have to wait for Miami in two weeks’ time to confirm whether the Milton Keynes cars have made ground on the flying McLarens from Woking.
Charles Leclerc drove a good race, securing a podium place, just making it by one second from Lando Norris, who chased all the way from his 10th position at the starting blocks.
The Mercedes team of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli were up at the top end again for a good finish in fifth and sixth places, respectively.
Lewis Hamilton was disappointed to only get seventh place.
The Williams team of Carlos Sainz and Alexander Albon were overjoyed to bring their ever-improving machines from Grove in Oxfordshire into a comfortable first-half finish to take eighth and ninth places, respectively.
The likeable young Arabian, Isack Hadjar, worked hard for another good finish in the points, in 10th position, in his Racing Bull.
The night race at the fast Jeddah circuit was a scene to behold. Eighteen out of twenty cars finished, with the two who didn’t being Yuki Tsunoda and Pierre Gasly, who had a coming together and had to retire at the start of the race. Only four cars were lapped by the winner.
DRIVERS
1 Oscar Piastri 99
2 Lando Norris 89
3 Max Verstappen 87
4 George Russell 73
5 Charles Leclerc 47
6 Kimi Antonelli 38
7 Lewis Hamilton 31
8 Alexander Albon 20
9 Esteban Ocon 14
10 Lance Stroll 10
CONSTRUCTORS
1 McLaren 188
2 Mercedes 111
3 Red Bull 89
4 Ferrari 78
5 Williams 25
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