Piastri contradicts Norris

Oscar Piastri is the new leader of the Formula 1 World Championship, and with three victories in five races this season, the Australian is quietly building a campaign defined by consistency and composure. His latest win in Saudi Arabia not only reinforced his status as a title contender – it also highlighted the growing gap between him and teammate Lando Norris, who once again faltered at a crucial moment.

After finishing fourth in Jeddah, Norris downplayed McLaren’s pace and claimed “Red Bull had the fastest car on Sunday”, telling reporters that Verstappen’s performance proved it. But Piastri, speaking later at the FIA press conference, disagreed.

“I don’t agree – our car was faster,” he responded.

Disagreement in McLaren

Piastri offered a more nuanced take on Red Bull’s challenge.

“Max was quicker than I expected. He surprised me at the start, and I didn’t think I’d struggle that much with the medium tires at the end. We still have work to do – our car is very strong, but this track is the most similar to Suzuka so far, and that’s where Red Bull has been closest. We still have an edge, just not as big at circuits like this.”

The 23-year-old now boasts five career wins, including Hungary and Azerbaijan in 2024, and China, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia this season.

On Turn 1 and Verstappen’s penalty

The race also saw drama into the first corner, with Piastri making a clean – but bold – move alongside Max Verstappen, who was later handed a five-second penalty.

“I got a good start. We went side-by-side, and I knew I’d have to brake late – but I was ahead and able to make the corner,” Piastri explained. “We both braked very late, but my two left wheels were still on track. It was dealt with as it should have been.”

Piastri on leading the championship

Despite topping the standings, Piastri remains focused on the long game.

“It doesn’t change anything. I still want to win every race. I’m proud of the work we’ve done and the reasons why we’re leading the championship – that matters more to me than the lead itself,” he said. “Melbourne wasn’t a great start, but I’ve felt good all season. I want to lead the championship at the final race – that’s the goal.”

Norris on current situation

Meanwhile, Norris is left playing catch-up once more. A poor qualifying session in Saudi Arabia forced him to fight back to fourth, and he didn’t shy away from the reality of the situation.

“I paid the price for the mistake in qualifying, but I’m happy overall. Losing the championship lead doesn’t surprise me,” he said. “I’ve been strong on Sundays, and the pace is definitely there. But I make life hard for myself on Saturdays. That’s what I need to work on.”

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