Summary

  • Oscar Piastri wins Saudi Arabian GP from Max Verstappen

  • Australian takes lead in drivers' championship

  • Verstappen given five-second penalty for cutting chicane at first corner

  • Leclerc third and Norris fourth after starting 10th

  • OUT: Tsunoda, Gasly

  • Get involved: #bbcf1

  1. Postpublished at 18:49 British Summer Time

    Sam Bird
    Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    That was extremely close going into Turn One. How there wasn't a major accident there [between Fernando Alonso and Gabriel Bortoleto] is unknown to me.

  2. Postpublished at 18:48 British Summer Time

    Lap 26/50

    Oscar Piastri in third is managing to hold off any threat from Max Verstappen in fourth.

    Oscar PiastriImage source, Getty Images
  3. Postpublished at 18:48 British Summer Time

    Lap 25/50

    Gabriel Bortoleto in 17th and Fernando Alonso in 16th almost tag each other as the Brazilian tries to avoid the Racing Bulls of Liam Lawson. "Wow! He moved under braking," says Spaniard Alonso. "That was close!"

  4. Team radio - Russell to Mercedespublished at 18:46 British Summer Time

    "Consider Plan B. Let's see how these tyres go."

  5. Postpublished at 18:46 British Summer Time

    Lap 24/50

    Charles Leclerc is leading this Saudi Arabian Grand Prix but the other Ferrari is yet to stop to change his 24-lap old medium tyres. Lando Norris is now second but his hard compound is holding steady. Oscar Piastri adds another fastest lap to his name and is just waiting for his chance to take the lead.

    Charles LeclercImage source, Getty Images
  6. Postpublished at 18:45 British Summer Time

    Sam Bird
    Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    I'm very surprised that neither Ferrari driver has come in [to the pits].

  7. Postpublished at 18:44 British Summer Time

    Lap 23/50

    Mercedes have received a call from George Russell to say try Plan B following his stop for the hard rubber. It's 2021 again as Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton are grappling on track - Red Bull versus Ferrari this time. Verstappen overtakes the seven-time world champion but Hamilton peels off and enters the pits anyway.

  8. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 18:43 British Summer Time

    #BBCF1

    Tim Hales: A 5 second penalty for MV is pointless when he’s out front in clear air. Give that same penalty to someone in the midfield and it’s much more impactful. MV should’ve been ordered to give the place back and run in dirty air

  9. Verstappen serves penaltypublished at 18:42 British Summer Time

    Lap 22/50

    The five-second time penalty has been served by Max Verstappen during that pit stop and he's rejoins the action in fifth place. Charles Leclerc goes to the front of the field but has yet to pit; Lando Norris also hasn't pitted, but the McLaren man started on the hards.

  10. Postpublished at 18:41 British Summer Time

    Harry Benjamin
    BBC F1 Commentator

    Lewis Hamilton did not make that easy for Oscar Piastri in the McLaren.

  11. Postpublished at 18:40 British Summer Time

    Lap 21/50

    George Russell is coming in to the pits from second place, moving Charles Leclerc up to his P2 spot. Oscar Piastri has slotted in to fifth place after his changeover, while Lando Norris has climbed to third on his hard tyres.

    Piastri overtakes Lewis Hamilton for third place, because Max Verstappen has come in to pit...

    Mercedes PitlaneImage source, Getty Images
  12. Postpublished at 18:39 British Summer Time

    Sam Bird
    Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    If this is legitimate Max Verstappen pace it would be concerning for Oscar Piastri at this point.

  13. Piastri pitspublished at 18:38 British Summer Time

    Lap 20/50

    That wasn't the quickest stop for Oscar Piastri. The Aussie is heading back out into the action - but Max Verstappen has stayed out, his engineer telling him he's doing a grand job out in front so far.

  14. Postpublished at 18:38 British Summer Time

    Sam Bird
    Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    This might be a cooling thing for Oscar Piastri, just sitting back a little to make sure that he doesn't overheat the tyres and engine.

    Just taking a little bit of speed out of the car and going back to between two to three seconds behind Max Verstappen.

  15. 'Norris has been able to carve his way up the field'published at 18:37 British Summer Time

    Harry Benjamin
    BBC F1 Commentator

    This is playing into Lando Norris' hands nicely, he's been able to carve his way through the field fairly well in these opening stages on that hard tyre.

  16. Norris up to P5published at 18:37 British Summer Time

    Lap 19/50

    Lando Norris gains another place with a smooth move on the Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli. For his team-mate Oscar Piastri, the call comes in to "box, box."

  17. Postpublished at 18:35 British Summer Time

    Lap 18/50

    Max Verstappen is 2.5 seconds clear of Oscar Piastri, both drivers on the medium tyres. George Russell is also a yellow runner, but the Mercedes man is radioing the pit wall to say his rubber is toast.

    Max VerstappenImage source, Getty Images
  18. 'Hamilton's rear tyres look cooked'published at 18:34 British Summer Time

    Sam Bird
    Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Lewis Hamilton looks like he's got no speed at the moment.

    Those rear tyres on his Ferrari look absolutely cooked in terms of surface temperature as he struggles for grip in the high-speed sections.

  19. Postpublished at 18:34 British Summer Time

    Lap 17/50

    Isack Hadjar is also a hard compound runner and the Racing Bulls rookie has climbed the field and is now in 10th place. The two Williams of Carlos Sainz in ninth and Alex Albon in eighth are also sitting pretty in the top 10.

  20. Team radio - Hamilton to Ferraripublished at 18:33 British Summer Time

    "I'm just sliding around here mate, I can't turn the rears."