The 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix delivered on all its promises, with a thrilling conclusion that saw McLaren and their prodigy driver Oscar Piastri achieve a masterful victory. Starting from pole position, the Australian managed to withstand pressure from his pursuers to cross the finish line more than 14 seconds ahead, a considerable gap at this level of competition.
Piastri, Master of the Sakhir Sands
From the start, Oscar Piastri demonstrated his determination to dominate the Sakhir circuit. Despite repeated attacks from George Russell (Mercedes) in the opening laps, the McLaren driver held firm, gradually building his lead. His teammate Lando Norris, who made a thunderous start from 6th place, unfortunately received a 5-second penalty for incorrectly positioning his car on the grid. This setback didn’t prevent him from delivering a solid race, finishing just off the podium.
The Safety Car Drama
On lap 32, while Piastri had built a lead of more than 6 seconds over his closest pursuer, the deployment of the safety car reshuffled the deck. Taking advantage of the neutralization, McLaren’s strategists called in their leader for a tire change—a bold but rewarding gamble. When racing resumed, Piastri managed to maintain his position despite Russell’s soft tires and Charles Leclerc‘s (Ferrari) hard compound. What followed was a breathtaking duel between the three drivers that kept spectators on the edge of their seats until the checkered flag.
Precious Points for McLaren
McLaren scores valuable points in the constructors’ championship with this victory. An even more remarkable performance considering the British team had to deal with some technical issues during pit stops (exit light problems, difficulty removing a right front tire on Piastri’s car). We can bet these minor inconveniences will be quickly forgotten in the euphoria of this resounding success!
Behind them, George Russell and Charles Leclerc completed the podium, not without delivering an intense battle in the final laps. The Monegasque driver, long in contention for victory, had to yield to the Mercedes’ velocity on the straights. Still a satisfying result for Ferrari, which placed both cars in the top 5 (Carlos Sainz finished 4th despite a 10-second penalty for pushing Kimi Antonelli off the track).
Red Bull, the Day’s Big Loser
While McLaren and Mercedes celebrate, Red Bull leaves this Bahrain Grand Prix frustrated. After mixed qualifying results, Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez had hoped to climb up the order during the race. Unfortunately, catastrophic pit stops ruined both drivers’ chances, forcing them to settle for scraps (6th and 7th). A setback for the Austrian team, which will need to quickly correct course to avoid letting Piastri and McLaren pull away in the championship.
See you in two weeks for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, where Oscar Piastri will attempt to confirm his status as F1’s new boss. His rivals have been warned: the “Wizard of Oz” fully intends to achieve back-to-back victories in the streets of Jeddah!
