Oscar Piastri dominates in Bahrain, delivering a flawless race as McLaren executes a near-perfect strategy to start the season strong.
After three practice sessions and a tightly contested qualifying round, the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend is set for a thrilling finale. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri starts from pole and aims to convert his strong Saturday into victory, but he’ll need to fend off a fierce group of challengers.
Lining up alongside him is Charles Leclerc, who’s hoping to turn his best qualifying result of the year into at least a podium. Behind them, George Russell chases his third podium or even a first win of the season, while Pierre Gasly, starting fourth in a surprising Alpine performance, might not have the pace to contend for the top step.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, in fifth, is eyeing his maiden F1 podium. Lando Norris, after a disappointing qualifying, is determined to fight his way back to the front. Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz start just ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Yuki Tsunoda.
Further back, Jack Doohan lines up 11th ahead of Isack Hadjar, Fernando Alonso, and Esteban Ocon. Alex Albon starts 15th, just ahead of Nico Hülkenberg after a controversial qualifying session. Rookies Liam Lawson and Gabriel Bortoleto follow, while Lance Stroll and Oliver Bearman round out the grid.
Ahead of the race, Verstappen receives several brake-related component changes. No penalty is issued as these are allowed under Article 40.3 of the sporting regulations due to safety concerns.
Ferrari boss Frédéric Vasseur predicts a two-stop strategy due to Sakhir’s abrasive surface, and suggests we may see all three tyre compounds in use. McLaren CEO Zak Brown confirms their two-stop plan and expresses confidence in a potential 1–2 finish. He backs Norris to recover quickly if he gets a strong start.
As the sun sets, track temperatures hover around 33°C, while the air is a warm 27°C—hot enough to stress the tyres without the chaos of daytime practice sessions.
It’s a milestone for Piastri as he makes his 50th Grand Prix start. Can he convert it into his fourth career win?
At lights out, Piastri gets a clean start, while Leclerc struggles off the line. Russell quickly grabs second, and Norris makes up ground to slot into third. Antonelli drops a few positions after running wide, and Verstappen loses ground to Sainz. The early order settles into Piastri, Russell, Norris, Leclerc, and Gasly.
Lap by lap, Piastri begins to edge clear. Norris comes under investigation for an incorrect grid position, earning a five-second penalty. Verstappen, struggling with hard tyres and brake issues, battles to stay in touch with the leaders. Pit stops begin early, with Hadjar blinking first on lap 7. The front-runners follow shortly after.
McLaren executes well in the pits, though Verstappen’s stop is sluggish, dropping him behind Ocon. Ferrari stretches its medium tyres longer than others before committing to a two-stop strategy, both Leclerc and Hamilton opting for fresh mediums.
By lap 20, Piastri leads comfortably from Russell, with Norris shadowing the Mercedes. Leclerc, now on a charge with fresh tyres, hunts down the McLaren. Verstappen, meanwhile, continues to struggle with tyre grip and inconsistent braking.
On lap 30, contact between Sainz and Tsunoda brings carbon fibre onto the track and prompts the deployment of the safety car. The field dives into the pits for fresh rubber, with Piastri switching to mediums and the Ferraris choosing hards for the run to the flag.
Racing resumes on lap 36. Piastri maintains control while Norris and Hamilton duel behind. Verstappen moves past Ocon but can’t close in on Gasly. Meanwhile, Russell is dealing with transponder issues affecting his DRS system and, later, reports gearbox concerns.
Leclerc battles Norris for third but eventually loses out. With just a few laps to go, Norris closes in on Russell for second, while Leclerc is told to stay within five seconds of the Mercedes driver in case of a penalty for a DRS infraction.
Despite late pressure from Norris, Russell holds onto second place—just barely. Piastri, meanwhile, cruises to an impressive victory, extending his lead with every lap. It’s a dominant performance from the young Australian, sealing a memorable 50th Grand Prix with a win that puts McLaren in a commanding position to start the season.
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Gap | Stop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes MCL39 | 57 Laps- 1h37m10.417s | 2 |
| 02 | George Russell | Mercedes W16 | +15.499 | 2 |
| 03 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes MCL39 | +16.273 | 2 |
| 04 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari SF-25 | +19.679 | 2 |
| 05 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari SF-25 | +27.993 | 2 |
| 06 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Honda RBPT RB21 | +34.395 | 2 |
| 07 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault A525 | +36.002 | 2 |
| 08 | Esteban Ocon | Haas Ferrari VF-25 | +44.244 | 2 |
| 09 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Honda RBPT RB21 | +45.061 | 2 |
| 10 | Oliver Bearman | Haas Ferrari VF-25 | +47.594 | 2 |
| 11 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes W16 | +48.16 | 3 |
| 12 | Alex Albon | Williams Mercedes FW47 | +48.839 | 2 |
| 13 | Nico Hülkenberg | Stake F1 Kick Sauber C45 | +53.472 | 2 |
| 14 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT VCARB 02 | +56.314 | 2 |
| 15 | Jack Doohan | Alpine Renault A525 | +57.806 | 2 |
| 16 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Mercedes AMR25 | +60.340 | 2 |
| 17 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT VCARB 02 | +64.435 | 2 |
| 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Mercedes AMR25 | +65.489 | 2 |
| 19 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Stake F1 Kick Sauber C45 | +66.872 | 2 |
| 20 | Carlos Sainz | Williams Mercedes FW47 | DNF | 3 |
- Explore Further>Pérez Family Forgives Red Bull, But Not Force India Exit
- Follow us on >FACEBOOK and >TWITTERfor F1 updates
Piastri Powers to Bahrain Glory in McLaren Masterclass Piastri Powers to Bahrain Glory in McLaren Masterclass
