Oscar Piastri has claimed his third Formula 1 victory of the season at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, taking the championship lead for the first time in his career.
The McLaren driver won from second on the grid, making it back-to-back wins and his third triumph in just five races this season.
Piastri benefited from a five-second penalty given to pole-sitter Max Verstappen, who was penalised for leaving the track to re-pass the Australian at the first corner.
It marks the first time an Australian has led the championship since Mark Webber in 2010.
Oscar Piastri beat Max Verstappen to first place at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Reuters
Piastri got off the line more quickly than Verstappen and moved ahead approaching the first corner.
Verstappen dived across the run-off area and stayed ahead, prompting Piastri to say over the radio: "He needs to give that back, I was ahead."
The stewards agreed with the Australian, handing Verstappen a five-second penalty. "Well that is f***ing lovely," the Dutchman responded.
Further back, Yuki Tsunoda and Pierre Gasly collided on the first lap, bringing out a safety car.
Verstappen got the jump on Piastri at the restart as the McLaren driver was forced to defend from Russell.
Piastri pitted on lap 19, trailing by nearly three seconds, with Verstappen following two laps later to serve his penalty.
The Red Bull driver emerged three seconds behind Piastri, who had completed a "sensational overtake" on Lewis Hamilton on his out lap.
Once in clean air ahead of Verstappen, Piastri showcased the might of the McLaren to cruise to victory, building a lead of just under four seconds.
Piastri now leads the drivers' championship by 10 points ahead of teammate Lando Norris.
Norris sits two points clear of Verstappen, who drops to third in the standings after dominating recent seasons.
Oscar Piastri tops the table in the World Championship after winning the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Reuters
The victory continues McLaren's strong form, with the team having won three of the five grands prix so far this season.
Piastri's championship lead is particularly impressive given this is only his second season in Formula 1.
The Australian has firmly established himself as a title contender alongside his more experienced teammate.
Norris recovered impressively from 10th on the grid after crashing in qualifying, labelling himself a "f***ing idiot" for the error.
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He finished fourth behind Charles Leclerc, who secured Ferrari's first podium of the season in third place.
George Russell started third but fell back to fifth, concerned about tyre wear in the closing laps.
Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli finished sixth ahead of Lewis Hamilton in seventh.
The final points positions were filled by Williams drivers Carlos Sainz Jr and Alexander Albon, with Isack Hadjar's Racing Bulls completing the top ten.
