Oscar Piastri stormed to pole in Bahrain with a blistering final lap, edging out George Russell’s Mercedes and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in a nail-biting qualifying showdown. McLaren, dominant in the earlier Q1 and Q2 sessions, faced real pressure in Q3—but Piastri delivered when it counted, clocking a 1:29.841 to secure the top spot. Russell came close, but fell a couple of tenths short, while Leclerc, despite a strong showing, had to settle for third, just a tenth and a half behind Russell. Meanwhile, Piastri’s teammate Lando Norris could manage only sixth.
In the race itself, the 2025 Bahrain Grand PrixTM unfolded as a thrilling spectacle under the desert lights, with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri delivering a masterclass performance to clinch victory. Starting from pole position, Piastri led the race with precision, navigating minor challenges like a malfunctioning drinks bottle and a safety car restart to finish 15.5 seconds ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell.
Russell, despite grappling with technical issues including DRS failure and brake malfunctions, managed to secure second place, holding off a determined Lando Norris. Norris, who overcame a poor qualifying session and a five-second penalty for a false start, completed the podium in third, maintaining a narrow lead in the World Championship standings.
Charles Leclerc
Charles Leclerc walked away from the Bahrain Grand PrixTM with a fourth-place finish and a mixed bag of emotions. While Ferrari showed signs of improvement—thanks in part to a set of new upgrades including a revised floor—the Monegasque driver acknowledged that the team remains a work in progress. The race offered a glimpse of potential, but it was clear that the leap forward was more of a cautious shuffle.
Starting from the front row, Leclerc was in the thick of the action, battling for what looked like a surefire first podium of the season. But in the closing laps, he couldn’t hold off a surging Lando Norris, who ultimately snatched third place. Despite the disappointment, Leclerc recognized that Ferrari’s developments weren’t ideally suited to the Bahrain circuit and hinted that the full benefit might be more apparent in upcoming races.
The strategy on Sunday added another layer of complexity. Leclerc initially had doubts about the team’s decision to stick with a two-stop approach, but the timing of a late Safety Car justified the call. An early struggle on the medium tyres saw him lose ground, but a longer first stint gave him a shot at recovery—only for that effort to stall once the race reset under yellow flags. The hard tyres offered little in the way of support as he tried to fend off faster rivals.
Ultimately, Leclerc felt that both he and the team had done everything possible under the circumstances. Still, missing out on the podium after such a hard-fought race stung. There’s optimism in the camp, but it’s clear that if Ferrari want to consistently challenge at the front, they’ll need to squeeze more and more out of their incremental improvements.
The race also featured notable performances from other drivers, including Charles’ team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who finished fifth, and Max Verstappen, who secured sixth place after expressing dissatisfaction with his Red Bull car.
In the constructors’ standings, McLaren’s strong performance has positioned them as the team to beat, with both drivers in prime contention for the title.
Norris, Piastri and Verstappen lead the Drivers Championship with only 8 points separating them. Leclerc lies in fifth place more than 35 points behind Verstappen.
For the final stop in a triple header sequence, the race will move straight on to Jeddah for the Saudi Arabian Grand PrixTM from April 18-20.
