Charles Leclerc rolled into Sunday’s Saudi Arabian Grand PrixTM with the energy of a man who’d just been ghosted by pole position. After a frustrating Saturday that left him sulking over a fourth-row seat to the party, the Monegasque maestro didn’t expect much more than a race-long game of defense. But plot twist—he hustled his Ferrari into third place and bagged his first podium of the season. Proud? Absolutely. Surprised? Even more so. Still, Leclerc was quick to point out that while he and the Prancing Horse danced well under the lights of Jeddah, there’s still some serious tuning needed before they can crash the Red Bull–McLaren showdown up front.
And so the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand PrixTM had unfolded under the shimmering lights of Jeddah, delivering a spectacle that blended high-speed drama with strategic masterstrokes. Oscar Piastri emerged victorious, claiming his third win of the season and ascending to the top of the championship standings.
Starting from the front row, Piastri capitalized on a five-second penalty handed to pole-sitter Max Verstappen for gaining an advantage by running wide at the first corner. The McLaren driver’s impeccable race pace and strategic pit stop allowed him to maintain the lead, finishing 2.843 seconds ahead of Verstappen.
Leclerc’s Climb
Charles Leclerc, despite a challenging qualifying session, showcased determination and skill. Employing a long first stint on medium tires, he executed a late pit stop strategy.
Before pitting, on lap 25 of 50, the Saudi desert had served up a spicy surprise—Charles Leclerc was leading the Grand PrixTM. Yes, leading. Behind him: Norris lurking, Piastri charging, Verstappen calculating, and a whole grid of hungry rivals lined up like a buffet of stress.
While Lewis Hamilton was having a rough time getting his Ferrari to behave (more tortoise than Silver Arrow), Leclerc was flying. For five glorious laps—from lap 25 to 30—the Monegasque marvel put on a masterclass, running lap times just two-tenths shy of Verstappen, who’d already bolted on fresh rubber.
On lap 30, Leclerc dove into the pits for hard tyres, rejoining the action in fifth, about three seconds behind George Russell. But Charles wasn’t about to let a podium slip through his fingers. With laser focus and relentless consistency—clocking in laps like a Swiss watch—he reeled in Russell, slid into DRS range by lap 37, and made his move stick on lap 38, swooping past at Turn 1 like he owned the place.
Then came the finale—a nail-biter of a showdown. Leclerc, now sitting pretty in third, was being hunted by Lando Norris. The gap? Barely a breath—just a second and a half. Lapped cars played spoiler, throwing the gap into a yo-yo frenzy, but Leclerc kept his cool like a man defusing a bomb with jazz playing in the background.
And as the checkered flag dropped, Leclerc—glorious, gritty Leclerc—had clung to third like his life (or at least his weekend) depended on it. His first podium of the season, a message to the paddock: don’t count out the guy in red just yet.
Race Rundown
• Winner: Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
• Second: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
• Third: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
• Fastest Lap: Lando Norris (McLaren) on lap 41
Championship Standings
With this victory, Piastri leads the championship with 99 points, followed by Norris with 89 and Verstappen with 87.
Looking Ahead
As the race circus moves to Miami, teams and drivers will aim to build on their performances. For Ferrari and Leclerc, the focus will be on maintaining momentum and closing the gap to the frontrunners. McLaren, buoyed by Piastri’s form, will look to consolidate their position at the top.
