Piastri wins again in Jeddah and climbs to the top of the world championship. First podium of the season for Leclerc's Ferrari

Despite a penalty that set him back a top position when he was defending it so well, Verstappen still showed great tenacity and received over 33% of the public vote, which awarded him 'driver of the day' for the first time this year. Starting on pole, he finished just 2.8 seconds behind Piastri, a sign that without penalties the fight for victory could have been even tighter.

At Mercedes, the race was positive but not entirely brilliant. George Russell was far from the pace of the top positions yesterday, with a more marked 'fall' in performance than in the first tests of the season. On the contrary, Andrea Kimi Antonelli showed maturity and a growing performance: for him a clean and aggressive race at the right time. He is carving out an increasingly central place for himself in the team: nothing to do with a wingman, on the contrary, he is becoming one of the most convincing rookies of recent years. Both Mercedes standard bearers, however, had a better pace than the second Ferrari and pulled over four seconds clear of their former pit idol, a Lewis Hamilton who had an uphill race.

After a good start and overtaking Sainz favoured by the chaos following the incident between Gasly and Tsunoda, the seven-time world champion began to suffer. As early as lap 14 he radioed in with difficulty in managing the rear end, which was 'slipping too much', making it impossible for him to keep up with the best. The seventh place finish, as mentioned, coincides with his grid position: a clear sign that something is missing at the moment in terms of confidence with the car, which, in any case, does not yet fully satisfy Leclerc either. According to the Monegasque, there is still a lot to be done in terms of "downforce and performance in qualifying, as well as too much tyre degradation".

From the race wall, however, Saudi Arabia's Sunday is to be rewarded for good strategy on all drivers and, as already seen in recent months, for very short pit stops and perfect execution.

The detail of Formula 1's fifth time on the western shore of the Red Sea was less eventful than usual. On the one hand, it was legitimate to expect a safety car, which punctually arrived in the early stages: a 'vice' of this track which, very fast in its design but on the other hand designed near a waterfront where the walls near the edge of the track are a necessity, could not deny itself. Compared to last year, Pirelli decided to use 'one level' softer tyres. one-stop strategy for almost everyone: there were conditions for an all-time average race speed record. But if and only if there were no breaks: opportunity postponed therefore to 2026.

However, the Jeddah circuit confirmed other expectations. The start was close and clean. But Piastri was more effective than Verstappen and, by just a few thousandths of a second, won over Verstappen, who was sent off track and induced to make a mistake, despite the evidence that there was no room for him. But the world champion, you know, never accepts it: so the two rival cars found themselves locked in a dangerous duel that went in McLaren's favour. With Verstappen 'cuckolded and cuckolded': those five seconds decreed the Australian's success.

In the same hectic stages, Antonelli also cut the chicane to avoid contact with an opponent. A few corners later, however, Pierre Gasly attempted an over-ambitious overtaking move on the outside on Tsunoda, causing a mess: both cars spun and the Frenchman ended up on the wall. In that chaos, Hamilton took advantage to pass Sainz, while Albon gained two positions. The race management, during the neutralisation phase, gave Verstappen a 5-second penalty for the excursion into turn two and the race was practically all decided there.

From lap thirteen, the race was inflamed with the first real duel between Hamilton and Norris: an overtaking move by the McLaren in the corner followed by the seven-time champion's retort on the straight. After one lap, however, the McLaren still got the better of him. Norris' new target became Antonelli and, gradually, his team-mate as well. Hamilton then lost ground, opening up to the pits over the radio about the difficulty of handling the car.

In the final, the situation remained frozen: Piastri still first with Verstappen hot on his heels, hardly dangerous as he was forced to serve a penalty during the tyre change. Leclerc was close, close enough to hope for second place if the gaps narrowed. Norris, fourth, could also have taken advantage, but the good pace of Max and Charles relegated him just outside the podium zone.

Behind the top four, the two Mercedes closed in 'almost hierarchical' order: Russell ahead of Antonelli. Hamilton seventh, as at the start. And he is seventh now also in the drivers' ranking, seven points behind Antonelli, sixteen behind Leclerc, 42 behind Russell, 56 behind Verstappen. And if the seven-time world champion still hasn't found his stride with the Ferrari, the recovery of the three-time reigning Dutch champion stands out: Verstappen is now only two points behind Norris, but he could have already been ahead of him, while the gap to the new leader, Piastri, is twelve lengths.