A brilliant opening manoeuvre from Oscar Piastri has won him the Saudi Arabian grand prix and the lead in the Formula One drivers’ championship. It is the first time an Australian has led the drivers’ championship for 15 years, following his manager Mark Webber in 2010. At turn one Piastri nipped inside Max Verstappen, who had begun the race on pole, resulting in the Dutchman driving off the road to reclaim the lead. He was subsequently given a five-second penalty enabling Piastri to regain the lead when the Red Bull rider pitted, and hold onto it all the way to the chequered flag. Verstappen was 2.843 seconds behind with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc making up the podium. Piastri’s McLaren teammate Lando Norris, who began in tenth after crashing in qualifying, came fourth. Australian rookie Jack Doohan finished 17th in his Alpine with 18 finishing.