Piastri "needs a couch" after tough Jeddah win that gives him the championship lead

21:28, 20 Apr

byNorberto Mujica

After winning the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and taking the championship lead, Oscar Piastri joked that he "needs a couch".

Piastri started from second place but was able to get a good start and get alongside Max Verstappen. He was then able to take the racing line and get ahead of Verstappen. Then the Dutchman took the run off to retain the lead.

The Stewards found Piastri to be ahead at the apex of Turn 1, rendering Verstappen's defense to be outside the confines of the regulations, thus incurring in a 5 second penalty on the grounds of leaving the track and gaining an advantage.

At the pitstops, despite Verstappen's superior pace in clean air, the damage was done, and the Australian took over the lead of the race.

After the race, during the on the grid interviews: "I need to find a couch," Piastri jested regarding the phisicality of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

"It was a pretty tough race. I’m very, very happy to have won. Made the difference at the start. Made my case into Turn 1, and that was enough," said Piastri alluding to the race defining Turn 1 incident.

Verstappen's penalty gave Piastri the race win, he acknowledges

Regarding the race, the Australian opined: "It was really tricky to follow out there. I couldn’t really stay with Max at the end of the first stint, just chewed up my tyres. And then the clean air was nice after the pit stop."

"Great race. We did the parts we needed to right. Still need a bit more I think, Max was a little bit too close for our liking, but a great race and a great weekend."

"Once I got on the inside, I wasn’t coming out of Turn 1 in second. I tried my best. Obviously, the stewards had to get involved, but I thought I was plenty far enough up. And in the end, that’s what got me the race," Piastri acknowledged.

"So, I’m very happy with all the work we’ve been doing at the starts, and that’s what won us the race today."