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Max Battles to Second in Jeddah After Penalty DramaMax took his third podium finish of 2025 with a composed second place at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

TheChampionwasdeniedashotatvictoryafterafirst-cornertusslewithOscarPiastriresultedinafive-secondtimepenaltyfortheDutchmanthateventuallydroppedhimbehindtheMcLarendriver.Meanwhile,Yuki’sraceendedinalaponecollisionwithAlpine’sPierreGaslythatforcedtheRedBulldrivertoretire.

The Starting Grid At Saudi© Getty Images

FromTurn1TroubletoP2:Max&YukiTellAll

Max Is Ready To Go© Getty Images

At lights out, Max made a good start from pole, but on the run to Turn 1, Piastri managed to haul his way alongside the champion. As they went into Turn 1, Max was forced to cut the chicane, but he continued into the lead ahead of the Australian.

Max Leads The Charge© Getty Images

Further back, Yuki had Gasly on his right-hand side and as the Japanese driver turned in, there was contact, and both drivers spun into the wall. While Gasly sustained heavy damage, Yuki was initially able to carry on. With the safety car released, he headed back to the pit lane, but after quick checks, his car was deemed to be too damaged, and he was forced to retire.

As the Safety Car prepared to leave the track, Race Control ruled that Max had left the track and gained an advantage at the start and he was handed a five-second time penalty.

The Safety Car Once More© Getty Images

On the restart, the Champion caught the following pack napping, and he swiftly charged into a one-second lead ahead of Piastri, Russell, Leclerc and Antonelli. But while Max tried to shake Piastri, the Australian stayed glued to the Champion’s gearbox, and after 12 laps, Max was just half a second ahead.

Further back, Norris had passed Sainz and was tussling with Hamilton. After twice getting past the Ferrari driver only to be passed again by Hamilton on the pit straight, Norris bided his time and holding back ahead of the final corner at the end of lap 14, he got DRS on the way to Turn 1 to finally dismiss the seven-time Champion. The McLaren driver then began to close up to Antonelli and on lap 18 he powered past the Italian to claim fifth place.

The Saudi Night© Getty Images

At the front, Max began to draw away from Piastri and by lap 19 had carved out a three-second advantage over the Australian as the pit window opened. On lap 20 Piastri blinked. He dived into the pits to take on hard tyres and emerged behind Hamilton. Max, though, stayed out, with GP telling the Champion that the gap was growing and to “keep it going”.

At the end of lap 21, Max made his stop, but, though the final laps of his stint were strong, his 8.3s stop to serve his penalty and then switch to hard tyres meant that he exited the pit lane three seconds behind Piastri. The Australian then began to hammer in purple laps to build the gap to over four seconds.

At the front, Leclerc, on aged mediums, now led the race, with Norris, on starting hard tyres and still setting competitive times, in P2.

The Crew Watches On© Getty Images

Leclerc finally decided he’d had enough of his tyres at the end of lap 29 and, after switching to hards, rejoined in fifth place, behind Russell. Norris finally made his pit stop at the end of lap 34 and after fitting a set of mediums, he dropped into fifth place, behind the lead Ferrari.

Their stops propelled Piastri back to the lead, 4.5s ahead of Max, who was 6.5s clear of Russell. Leclerc was on the move, though, and with fresh tyres on board, he quickly reeled in Russell. On lap 38 he closed right up to the Mercedes and powered past on the pit straight to claim the final podium place. Russell, struggling for pace, was then reeled in by Norris, who eased past under DRS to take P4.

And although the McLaren driver tried to close in on Leclerc, the order at the top stabilised and after 50 laps, Piastri took victory, just 2.8s ahead of Max. Leclerc hung on to third ahead of Norris, with Russell in fifth. Antonelli took sixth in the second Mercedes with Hamilton in P7 ahead of Sainz and Albon, who handed Williams a double points finish. Hadjar took the final point with tenth place for the VCARB team.

Max Secures P2© Getty Images