Author: David Bodapati

Sakhir, 13 April 2025: Oscar Piastri handed McLaren its first Bahrain Grand Prix win with a controlled drive from pole position that saw the Australian finish 15 seconds clear or Mercedes’ George Russell while Lando Norris recovered from a starting grid penalty to battle through to third at the flag. 

At the start of the race, polesitter Piastri got away well to take the lead. Alongside him, however, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was slow off the line and he was passed by Mercedes’ George Russell and the second McLaren of Lando Norris. Further back Max Verstappen also had a tricky start and Red Bull driver was passed by Williams’ hard-charging Carlos Sainz. Verstappen slotted into eighth place ahead of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton. 

As Piastri took control of the first stint, Sainz charged up to sixth, but he was soon passed by Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli and Verstappen followed the Italian driver at the hairpin to reclaim seventh. Sainz then slipped back and on lap 9 both Hamilton and Yuki Tsunoda in the second Red Bull charged past the Williams driver. 

Norris was in trouble, however. The McLaren driver has stopped short on the grid and in trying to move he put his car beyond the grid slot. He was handed a five-second time penalty. 

The Soft tyres many had started on quickly began to fade and at the end of lap 10 Norris was the first to shed them. He dived into pits, served his time penalty and made a switch Mediums.

Sixth-placed Pierre Gasly and Verstappen were next in for a change, but the champion’s switch to the Hard compound Pirellis was a slow 4.7 seconds and when he emerged, he found himself three seconds back from Gasly and with backmarkers between them. 

At the front, Medium-tyre starters Leclerc and Hamilton took over as the lead pair, ahead of Piastri and Russell. Norris was now fifth ahead of Gasly and Haas’ Esteban Ocon, while Verstappen was down in P8. 

Ferrari completed a stacked stop at the end of lap 17 and while Leclerc slotted into the pack in fifth and soon passed Gasly, Hamilton emerged in P11. With fresher tyres on board, he soon made his way past Tsunoda. 

On lap 20 Verstappen was ambushed by Antonelli who got past in Turn 4. Struggling with “everything overheating” Max was then passed by Hamilton who was gradually hauling his way forward.

At the front, Piastri was slowly stretching away from Russell and on lap 24 he was five seconds clear of the Mercedes. Norris was third but being pressured by Leclerc who almost made his way past in Turn 1 only to go too deep. The Monegasque driver wasn’t done, however, and on the following lap he powered past the McLaren in Turn 4 to steal third place. 

With the second pit stop window now open, Tsunoda climbed to P7 but on lap 31, he tangled with Sainz. The Red Bull driver slid sideways into the Williams man’s car and the Spaniard’s car was damaged. With debris strewn across the track the Safety Car was deployed, and the pit lane was quickly flooded with drivers taking advantage of the caution. 

Behind the SC, Piastri led ahead of Russell, Leclerc, Norris and Hamilton. Gasly was now sixth ahead of Ocon and Max, with Alpine’s Jack Doohan next ahead of Sainz and Tsunoda. 

The Safety Car left the track at the end of lap 35 and Piastri held the lead ahead of Russell and Leclerc. Hamilton and Norris tussled but after swapping position twice the McLaren driver forged ahead. Verstappen, too, was on the move and he dived past Ocon to claim P7. 

In a tight closing third of the race, battles throughout the order. Norris pressured Leclerc for a dozen laps and although the Ferrari driver was initially able to resist, eventually his defence faded and on lap 52 the McLaren driver got past. Further back, Verstappen closed up to Gasly and on the final lap of the race the champion was able to power past to take sixth place. 

At the front, Piastri was in control and after 57 laps he took his second win of the year ahead of Russell who was set for investigation for a DRS infringement late in the race due to technical problems with his car.  Norris finished third ahead of Leclerc and Hamilton finished in fifth place ahead of Verstappen. Gasly ended up sixth ahead Ocon while Tsunoda took his first points for Red Bull Racing with ninth place ahead of the second Haas of Bearman. 

2025 FIA Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix – Race 
1 Oscar Piastri McLaren/Mercedes 57 1:35’39.435 
2 George Russell Mercedes 57 1:35’54.934 15.499
3 Lando Norris McLaren/Mercedes 57 1:35’55.708 16.273
4 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 57 1:35’59.114 19.679
5 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 57 1:36’07.428 27.993
6 Max Verstappen Red Bull/Honda RBPT 57 1:36’13.830 34.395
7 Pierre Gasly Alpine/Renault 57 1:36’15.437 36.002
8 Esteban Ocon Haas/Ferrari 57 1:36’23.679 44.244
9 Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull/Honda RBPT 57 1:36’24.496 45.061
10 Oliver Bearman Haas/Ferrari 57 1:36’27.029 47.594
11 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 57 1:36’27.451 48.016
12 Alexander Albon Williams/Mercedes 57 1:36’28.274 48.839
13 Nico Hülkenberg Sauber/Ferrari 57 1:36’32.907 53.472
14 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls/Honda RBPT 57 1:36’35.749 56.314
15 Jack Doohan Alpine/Renault 57 1:36’37.241 57.806
16 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin/Mercedes 57 1:36’39.775 1’00.340
17 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls/Honda RBPT 57 1:36’43.870 1’04.435
18 Lance Stroll Aston Martin/Mercedes 57 1:36’44.924 1’05.489
19 Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber/Ferrari 57 1:36’46.307 1’06.872
     Carlos Sainz Williams/Mercedes 45 1:17’36.543 Retirement