Under the floodlights of the Bahrain International Circuit, Oscar Piastri secured a sensational pole position for the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix, marking his second career F1 pole. In a dramatic qualifying session, the McLaren driver capitalised on team-mate Lando Norris’s less-than-perfect final lap in Q3 to clinch the top spot.
The initial qualifying classification saw George Russell in second place and Charles Leclerc in third. However, the grid was later revised due to penalties handed out to both Russell and his Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli.
Qualifying Highlights:
Oscar Piastri (McLaren) set the fastest time of 1:29.8415 .
George Russell (Mercedes) initially qualified second with a time of 1:30.0095, but was handed a one-place grid penalty for being prematurely released from his garage ahead of a restart during Q2. He will start third.
Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) qualified third with a time of 1:30.1755.
Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) impressed with a fourth-place qualifying time of 1:30.2135 but also received a one-place grid penalty and will start fifth. The stewards noted that the team’s Sporting Director was not present during the release process, which could be seen as a sporting advantage.
Pierre Gasly (Alpine) secured a strong fifth on the grid with a time of 1:30.216, marking his best start of the year.
Championship leader Lando Norris (McLaren) had a “scruffy final lap” and could only manage sixth with a time of 1:30.2671
Reigning World Champion Max Verstappen (Red Bull) had a frustrating session, reporting brake issues which may have stemmed from a set-up change He qualified seventh with a time of 1:30.4233
Carlos Sainz (Williams) delivered his best qualifying performance for his new team, taking eighth place with a time of 1:30.6805
Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) endured another disappointing qualifying, finishing ninth with a time of 1:30.772 after one of his laps was deleted for exceeding track limit Ferrari brought a new floor to Bahrain, but it doesn’t seem to have given Hamilton the same confidence as Leclerc. Hamilton admitted he felt he was “not doing the job”
Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) reached Q3 for the first time as Verstappen’s team-mate in 2025, qualifying tenth with a time of 1:31.3034 ….
Knocked out in Q2:
Jack Doohan (Alpine)
Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)
Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
Esteban Ocon (Haas)
Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) – His Q1 lap was later deleted for track limits, meaning Alex Albon would have competed in Q2 had this been known earlier.
Knocked out in Q1:
Alex Albon (Williams)
Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)
Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
Oliver Bearman (Haas)
The stage is now set for an intriguing race on Sunday, with Piastri leading the pack but facing pressure from behind and a shuffled grid due to the penalties. The hotter conditions and abrasive track surface are expected to play a significant role in tyre management, potentially leading to a strategic battle.
| Position | Driver | Team | Time |
| 1 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:29.841 |
| 2 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +0.234 |
| 3 | George Russell | Mercedes | +0.168* |
| 4 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | +0.275 |
| 5 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | +0.272** |
| 6 | Lando Norris | McLaren | +0.426 |
| 7 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | +0.582 |
| 8 | Carlos Sainz | Williams | +0.839 |
| 9 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | +0.931 |
| 10 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull | +1.462 |
| 11 | Jack Doohan | Alpine | 1:31.228 |
| 12 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls | 1:31.245 |
| 13 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:31.271 |
| 14 | Esteban Ocon | Haas | 1:31.886 |
| 15 | Alex Albon | Williams | 1:32.040*** |
| 16 | Nico Hulkenberg | Sauber | No lap time**** |
| 17 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | 1:32.165 |
| 18 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Sauber | 1:32.186 |
| 19 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 1:32.283 |
| 20 | Oliver Bearman | Haas | 1:32.373 |
