Piastri Eyes 3rd Win To Take Lead

He will become first Australian to top standings since 2010, but three others stand in his way

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JEDDAH - McLaren's Oscar Piastri has a personal target this weekend - to become Australia's first Formula One championship leader in 15 years if he wins for the third time this season in Saudi Arabia on April 20.

The 24-year-old, one of four drivers who could end the week on top after a tiring "triple header" run of races on three successive weekends, won in Hungary and Azerbaijan last season and is the only repeat winner so far in 2025.

He has the momentum, the confidence and the car to beat leading teammate Lando Norris as he seeks to add Jeddah's fast and floodlit street circuit to his victory list, which contains Shanghai and Bahrain as well.

Currently three points adrift of Norris (77 points), who has led since the Melbourne opener, Piastri won in Bahrain from pole position with fastest lap the last time out.

He beat his teammate in Saudi Arabia last season, finishing fourth to Norris' eighth, and is now a step away from emulating manager Mark Webber, who led the standings with Red Bull in 2010.

"Jeddah is a track I really enjoy and have good memories of from past visits. I'm determined to hit the ground running in Saudi," said Piastri.

Norris, who was highly self-critical of his third-placed performance in Bahrain despite four podiums from four starts, is also keen to pick up speed in the fifth edition of the race on the shores of the Red Sea.

"Congrats to Oscar and the whole McLaren team. And I'll try step it up for next weekend," the Briton said on April 13.

Red Bull's four-time world champion Max Verstappen, winner in Japan but eight points behind Norris, will seek to deny McLaren at a circuit that has been good to him in the past.

The 27-year-old Dutchman was the winner last season and in 2022, but this time he is more of an outsider after a tough night under the floodlights in Bahrain where he finished sixth.