McLaren's Oscar Piastri won the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Sunday from Red Bull polesitter Max Verstappen to lead the world championship for the first time in his career after one of his "toughest" ever races.

Charles Leclerc's Ferrari completed the podium for this fifth round of the season under the floodlights at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.

Piastri's third win this year was in large part decided at the first turn, when Verstappen picked up a five-second penalty for gaining an advantage after going off the track.

He becomes the first Australian to lead the drivers' standings since his agent, Mark Webber, 15 years ago.

"I'm looking for a couch! It was a pretty tough race," said Piastri, as fireworks lit up the night sky.

"I made the difference at the start and made my case in to Turn One, and that was enough."

"Max was still a bit too close for my liking!" Piastri added, after crossing the line 2.843 seconds clear of the four-time world champion.

"I'm going to keep it quite short," said Verstappen, not wanting to discuss his penalty. "It's been a great weekend along the track, and the rest is what it is."

Piastri's McLaren teammate Lando Norris, who went into the weekend leading the standings, took fourth ahead of the two Mercedes of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.

As the sun dipped and the tension rose, the lights went out at the world's fastest street circuit, a strip of asphalt hugging a lagoon on the Red Sea coastline.

Piastri got off to a flyer and was upside Verstappen at the first corner, but the Dutchman cut the chicane, prompting Piastri to tell his team, "He needs to give that back; I was ahead."

"He just forced me off," was Verstappen's verdict.

Behind, Verstappen's teammate Yuki Tsunoda and Pierre Gasly's Alpine tangled, bringing out the safety car and taking them both out of the race.

Racing resumed on lap three with news that Verstappen had been slapped with a five-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage. (AFP)