Oscar Piastri ‘forcefully’ makes big change at McLaren after winning the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix for Gian Carlo Minardi

Gian Carlo Minardi thinks Oscar Piastri is ‘confirming’ the McLaren star is a ‘complete driver’ after beating Max Verstappen to win the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix last Sunday.

The 24-year-old produced a near-perfect weekend in Jeddah as Piastri also earned the lead of the F1 drivers’ championship for the first time in his career. Winning the Saudi Arabian GP moved the Australian 10 points clear of his McLaren teammate Lando Norris in the rankings.

Verstappen denied Piastri pole at the Saudi Arabian GP by just 0.010 seconds on Saturday as a tow from Red Bull teammate Yuki Tsunoda on the pit straight made the vital difference. Yet Piastri got the superior launch from P2 to edge the front of his MCL39 in front before Turn 1.

Their starts were ultimately pivotal as the Dutchman eased off the brakes and used the T1-2 run-off area to remain ahead when he should have tucked in behind in P2. Verstappen got a five-second penalty in the Saudi Arabian GP for leaving the circuit and gaining an advantage.

Gian Carlo Minardi thinks Oscar Piastri has ‘forcefully’ taken McLaren’s No1 driver status from Lando Norris

Verstappen could count himself slightly fortunate to only receive a five-second penalty given Piastri had to stay in his dirty air. It destroyed the McLaren driver’s front tyres quicker and he fell to almost three seconds behind the Red Bull pilot before Piastri made his pit stop on L19.

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The 24-year-old also lost a further second due to a slow stop, yet Piastri ignored McLaren to overtake Lewis Hamilton at T21 in the Saudi Arabian GP. It proved decisive to emerge ahead when Verstappen pitted on L21, and Piastri utilised the clean air to go on and win by 2.843s.

His victory also seriously impressed Minardi, who feels Piastri has now ‘forcefully’ taken the No1 driver status at McLaren off Norris by winning the Saudi Arabian GP. The Briton drove a solid recovery race on Sunday to get P4 after Norris crashed in qualifying and started in P10.

Minardi wrote on the former F1 team owner’s website: “In Saudi Arabia we saw a weekend under the banner of McLaren – but especially under the name Oscar Piastri, who forcefully took the number one spot within the team led by Andrea Stella, as well as the lead in the ladder by taking his third win of the season. He is confirming that he is a complete driver.”

Oscar Piastri was changing McLaren’s mind on Lando Norris leading before winning the Saudi Arabian GP

While Minardi thinks Piastri has ‘forcefully’ taken the No1 driver status at McLaren off Norris after beating Verstappen to win the Saudi Arabian GP in a controlled and intelligent way, the Australian was already starting to change minds in Woking with his form to start this season.

The 24-year-old dominated to win the Bahrain Grand Prix from pole position just seven days before taking his third victory of the 2025 F1 season in Saudi Arabia. It was a result that saw Piastri take over from Norris as who McLaren expected would lead their team to begin 2025.

Norris was McLaren’s clear top driver in 2024 and they thought he would have learned from his fights with Verstappen. Yet Piastri has picked up the baton this year as the Briton has not felt as comfortable with the MCL39 as the Melbourne native since he won the Australian GP.