Oscar Piastri conceded Max Verstappen was a touch too close for his and McLaren's liking at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Piastri clinched back-to-back victories to move 10 points clear of his team-mate Lando Norris in the Formula One drivers' championship.

However, Piastri's victory was aided by a five-second penalty that was dished out to reigning champion Max Verstappen, who left the track in a first-corner tussle with the Australian.

Verstappen finished second, ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, with Norris finishing fourth.

"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 stops," said Piastri.

"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."

OSCAR PIASTRI WINS IN JEDDAH!!

The McLaren driver clinches the victory from Max Verstappen in P2 and Charles Leclerc in P3 #F1 #SaudiArabianGP pic.twitter.com/WD1DhdRe3H

— Formula 1 (@F1) April 20, 2025

Verstappen, meanwhile, suggested the powers that be do not like hearing his opinions when he was asked about his penalty.

"You can't share your opinion because it's not appreciated apparently, or people can't handle the full truth. Honestly, it's better if I don't say too much," said the Dutchman, who has previously been punished for swearing during a press conference.

"It's honestly just how everything is becoming. Everyone is super-sensitive about everything.

"And what we have [in the rules] currently, we cannot be critical anyway. So less talking – even better for me.

"I cannot swear in here, but at the same time, you also can't be critical in any form that might 'harm' or 'danger'. There's a lot of lines, you know?

"So that's why it's better not to talk about it – you can put yourself in trouble, and I don't think anyone wants that."

Thanks to Piastri's triumph in Jeddah, McLaren have now achieved four wins in the first five races of the year, something they had not achieved since 1998 (also four in the first five), the last year in which they won both the constructors' and drivers' championship.