Piastri Wins Saudi GP After Verstappen Penalty

Oscar Piastri won the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, becoming the first Australian since 2010 to lead the Formula 1 championship. The race was decided by a controversial incident at the first corner where Max Verstappen, starting from pole, went off track to retain his lead and was penalized five seconds for gaining a lasting advantage. The FIA explained the penalty by stating Piastri was entitled to space as he was sufficiently alongside Verstappen at the apex. Red Bull's Christian Horner and Helmut Marko criticized the penalty as harsh and inconsistent, while Verstappen declined detailed comment due to concerns over further sanctions. Piastri maintained that the penalty was justified, and the outcome has fueled debate about stewarding and freedom of expression in F1. Following the race, Piastri leads the championship, trailed by teammate Lando Norris and Verstappen.