Max second in Saudi Arabian GP: 'It is what it is'

Published on 20 April 2025 by Stefan Meens

Max Verstappen finished second in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after starting from pole position. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri took victory in the streets of Jeddah after lining up alongside Max on the first row of the grid. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) completed the top three. The race’s biggest flashpoint was the first corner duel between Max and Piastri, which ultimately lead the former receiving a race defining five second time penalty.

On the in-lap after the chequered flag, Max said: “We did everything right, thanks guys. I gave it everything and it is what it is.” The Oracle Red Bull Racing added whilst speaking to the FOM world feed after the race: “I want to keep it brief. I want to thank the fans here in Jeddah. It was a great weekend, and I love this track. I’m looking forward to Miami.

When the lights go out at the Jeddah Cornice Circuit, all eyes are on the front row as Piastri enjoys an excellent start. The Aussie positions his car alongside Max’s RB21 as the pair head into the first turn. Both drivers go wide, and Max is forced to cut across the track to avoid contact.

Further back, Pierre Gasly opts for a daring and risky move on the outside of Yuki Tsunoda’s Red Bull. The former teammates tangle resulting in both hitting the wall. Gasly’s Alpine’s suspension does not survive the impact and the Frenchman’s race ends on the spot. Tsunoda is still able to drive back to the pits, but the team quickly assess the situation and retire the Japanese driver’s car.

The carnage caused by the Gasly-Tsunoda collision prompts a safety car during which the incident between Max Piastri is investigated by the stewards. They eventually award the Dutchman a five second time penalty.

As the safety car ends, Max executes an excellent restart, quickly breaking away from Piastri. What follows is a tense opening stint in which the leading pair edge away from the two Mercedes of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli and the Ferrari of Leclerc. All eyes are on the McLaren and Red Bull pit crews and strategists to see who blinks first.

Piastri is the first to make his only stop of the race. The Aussie does so on lap nineteen. After a relatively slow stop, in the mid three seconds, Piastri rejoins in fourth behind Max, Russell and Leclerc. Three laps later, Max pits for his only tyre change of the race. The stop is hampered by the five second penalty, meaning the reigning champion rejoins the race in fifth. Meanwhile, Piastri has jumped the Dutchman and virtually leads the race as Leclerc and Norris are yet to make their stops.

Norris is the last of the front runners to make his stop in lap 35. Piastri retakes the lead, and the Australian keeps the gap to Max between three and five seconds in the closing third of the race. The McLaren driver takes the chequered flag to win his third race of the 2025 campaign. He also jumps his teammate Lando Norris to go to the top of the drivers’ championship. Max stays in third behind the two McLarens.

Results Grand Prix Saudi Arabia: