The fourth round of the 2025 Formula 1 season brought teams and drivers to the Bahrain International Circuit, a well-known venue in the Sakhir desert. This year’s Bahrain Grand Prix took place later in the calendar, from April 11th to April 13th, 2025. There was significant anticipation leading up to the race, particularly due to McLaren’s impressive pace demonstrated throughout the practice sessions, which set the stage for a captivating qualifying.
The qualifying session culminated in Oscar Piastri securing pole position, achieving a fastest lap time of 1:29.841. However, the initial qualifying order underwent changes due to penalties. George Russell (Mercedes) had originally qualified second and Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) fourth, but both drivers received one-place grid penalties for a red flag infringement during the second segment of qualifying, where their cars were released from the garage prematurely. As a result, Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), who initially qualified third with a time of 1:30.175, was promoted to second on the grid, with Russell starting third and Antonelli fifth.
Qualifying also highlighted varying fortunes within teams. While Piastri celebrated his pole, his McLaren teammate and championship leader Lando Norris encountered difficulties on his final qualifying lap, ultimately finishing sixth with a time of 1:30.267. Reigning World Champion Max Verstappen (Red Bull) reported brake issues and could only manage seventh place with a time of 1:30.423. Notably, Yuki Tsunoda, Verstappen’s new teammate at Red Bull, reached the final segment of qualifying for the first time in 2025, starting tenth with a time of 1:31.303.
Sunday’s race commenced at 3pm UTC / 4pm GMT / 6pm local time, with the desert heat expected to influence tyre performance. Pirelli had selected their hardest tyre compounds for the weekend – C1 (hard), C2 (medium), and C3 (soft). Tyre management was anticipated to be a critical factor, potentially leading to multiple pit stops for the majority of the field. The slightly longer run to the first corner in Bahrain often presents opportunities for drivers to gain positions at the start.
The Race Gets Underway:
When the lights went out, Oscar Piastri made a clean start from pole position, successfully defending his lead into the first corner despite pressure from George Russell. Behind them, Lando Norris made an excellent getaway, gaining three positions to fourth before swiftly overtaking Charles Leclerc for third place. However, Norris’s progress was soon tempered by a five-second time penalty for an incorrect starting grid box position.
In the initial laps, Piastri established a small lead over Russell, while Norris, hindered by his penalty, began to lose ground. On Lap 10, Norris served his five-second penalty during his first pit stop, switching from soft to medium tyres and rejoining the race in fifteenth position, leaving him with considerable work to do to regain lost ground. Piastri made his first pit stop on Lap 14 for medium tyres, rejoining in third place but effectively holding the net lead of the race ahead of Russell.
Mid-Race Developments and Strategies:
As the first round of pit stops concluded, Piastri and Norris found themselves in the lead and third positions, respectively. Norris, displaying impressive pace, briefly lost his podium position to Leclerc in a close battle but quickly retook it after the Ferrari driver experienced a momentary loss of traction. However, Norris’s early push and the time penalty had taken a toll on his tyre performance.
Further back, Max Verstappen struggled to advance significantly from his seventh-place starting grid slot. His earlier concerns regarding brake issues appeared to persist, and the Red Bull car seemed less competitive in the Bahrain heat compared to the conditions in previous races.
The race strategies largely revolved around a two-stop approach due to the high levels of tyre degradation. The timing of these pit stops and the selection of tyre compounds were expected to be crucial in determining the final outcome.
Safety Car Period and the Final Sprint:
On Lap 33, a Safety Car was deployed, which significantly altered the race dynamics. Both Piastri and Norris took advantage of this to make another pit stop for a fresh set of medium tyres. Piastri maintained his lead after the restart, while Norris dropped to fifth position.
The Safety Car period set up a thrilling final stint of the race. Norris quickly overtook Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) to reclaim fourth place and then focused on closing the gap to Leclerc in third. After a period of intense pressure and a near lock-up while attempting an overtake, Norris successfully passed Leclerc with just five laps remaining, securing the final step on the podium.
At the front, Oscar Piastri drove flawlessly, extending his lead over George Russell. Despite Russell experiencing “all sorts of failures” with his DRS system in the closing laps, he managed to hold onto second place, although Norris was rapidly closing in.
Oscar Piastri crossed the finish line to take victory, securing his second win of the 2025 season and McLaren’s first victory in Bahrain. George Russell finished second, and Lando Norris completed the podium in third place.
Race Results and Analysis:
The final race classification showcased a strong performance from McLaren, achieving a one-three finish. Charles Leclerc finished fourth for Ferrari, followed by Lewis Hamilton in fifth. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) continued his strong weekend, finishing sixth, while Max Verstappen had a relatively disappointing race, finishing seventh. Carlos Sainz (Williams) finished eighth, Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) ninth, and Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) completed the top ten.
Oscar Piastri also set the fastest lap of the race with a time of 1:35.140s on Lap 36.
Reflecting on his win, Piastri described it as an “incredible weekend” and expressed his pride in securing McLaren’s first Bahrain victory. Norris, despite his penalty and challenges, was satisfied with a strong points finish, congratulating Piastri and the team.
George Russell acknowledged the difficulty in keeping Norris behind, revealing the DRS issues he faced in the final stages of the race.
Max Verstappen’s struggles highlighted that the Red Bull car, while strong in certain conditions, faced more challenges in the high temperatures and abrasive track surface of Bahrain.
Driver and Constructor Standings:
Following the Bahrain Grand Prix, the driver standings would likely see a close battle for the lead, with Oscar Piastri’s victory significantly reducing any deficit to Lando Norris, who started the race as the championship leader. In the constructors’ championship, McLaren’s strong double podium finish would further strengthen their lead.
Post-Race Thoughts:
In post-race interviews, Oscar Piastri expressed his determination after the Safety Car restart, emphasizing the importance of the team’s strategy and his qualifying performance.
Lando Norris, while congratulating his teammate, acknowledged his error with the grid penalty but was pleased with his recovery to secure a podium finish.
The Bahrain Grand Prix delivered an engaging race under the desert lights. Oscar Piastri’s dominant victory from pole position was a significant achievement for McLaren, marking their first win at the Bahrain International Circuit. Lando Norris’s recovery drive to third, despite an early penalty, demonstrated his resilience and the underlying pace of the McLaren car. While George Russell secured second place despite technical difficulties, the race indicated that McLaren has emerged as a strong contender in the 2025 season. Red Bull and Max Verstappen faced a more challenging weekend, with their limitations seemingly more apparent in the Bahrain conditions. The strategic elements and the exciting final laps provided compelling racing action, setting the stage for the next round of the championship in Saudi Arabia.
