LIGHTS TO FLAG: Result and Takeaways from the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix

Jay Oh

Oscar Piastri delivered a commanding performance at the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix, leading from pole position to secure his second victory of the season. The McLaren driver finished over 15 seconds ahead of Mercedes' George Russell, with teammate Lando Norris completing the podium in third place. ​

Pole to Victory: Piastri Untouchable

Oscar Piastri’s weekend was flawless from start to finish. After claiming pole position with a near-perfect lap in qualifying, the Australian kept his cool at the start and immediately opened a comfortable gap to the cars behind. Even a late safety car failed to rattle him. With a mature, measured drive, Piastri led every lap and brought the car home with over 15 seconds to spare—a statement win that marks McLaren’s first ever victory at Bahrain.

His dominance left no room for argument. Red Bull nor Mercedes had an answer to the Australian’s pace, and his ability to manage tire wear while extracting raw performance made him the class of the field.

Russell Splits the McLarens

George Russell delivered Mercedes’ best result of the season so far with a solid drive to second. Starting from third after a minor grid penalty, he made the most of a strong launch to leapfrog into contention early on and held off Norris in the closing stages to secure his second podium of the year.

While Russell couldn’t match the pace of Piastri, Mercedes will be encouraged by the car’s one-lap and race pace—especially on a circuit that traditionally highlights weaknesses in tire management and rear-end stability.

Norris Recovers for Podium After Penalty

It wasn’t a clean day for Lando Norris, who picked up a five-second time penalty for a false start after the lights caught him out by milliseconds. But the McLaren driver responded well, slicing back through traffic and delivering critical overtakes to claw his way onto the podium. He finished third on the road, and after the penalty was applied, still managed to hold off the Ferraris to retain the position.

With that recovery, Norris maintains the lead in the Drivers’ Championship—though now by just three points over his teammate Piastri.

Ferrari and Red Bull Struggle Again

Ferrari had a muted race despite showing flashes of pace. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton came home fourth and fifth respectively, but neither was able to consistently challenge the top three. Hamilton, in particular, appeared frustrated with the car’s balance in the second stint, dropping back after the safety car restart.

Red Bull endured yet another weekend of head-scratching performances. Max Verstappen finished sixth and was rarely seen in contention. The reigning champion struggled with traction and corner entry issues throughout the race as well as overheating. His main issue, however, was the pit stop errors, starting with a faulty pit box exit light that saw him lose two seconds in his first stop as well as a slow second stop which pushed him a further four seconds back. His teammate Yuki Tsunoda was able to score his first ever points in the Red Bull car ever since his joining of the team in the previous race in Japan. Despite this, it was only two points for the Japanese driver’s P9, which contributed little to the Austrian team’s place in the Constructors’ standings.

Bearman Flies

In what is becoming a trend, Haas rookie Oliver Bearman once again delivered one of the most impressive drives of the day. Starting from the back of the grid after a mechanical issue in qualifying, the 19-year-old fought his way into the points with a clever one-stop strategy and a series of fearless overtakes.

His tenth-place finish not only earned him a point but sent another clear message that he’s ready to challenge the midfield on a consistent basis.

Championship Outlook: The McLaren Show

With four races complete, McLaren leads both championships, with the drivers’ standings being much closer than the constructors. Lando Norris holds 77 points, just ahead of Oscar Piastri on 74. Verstappen has slipped to third in the standings with a final points tally of 69, finding himself playing catch-up after an underwhelming result.

In the Constructors’ battle, McLaren sits well ahead of Mercedes, while Red Bull even further back has serious work to do if they hope to claw back lost ground.

Looking Ahead: Saudi Arabia

The 2025 Formula 1 calendar now heads to Jeddah for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix—a high-speed street circuit known for chaos, unpredictability, and punishing mistakes. It’s a track where Verstappen has traditionally thrived, but this year, the McLaren duo are the ones carrying the momentum.

As the early championship battle heats up between Norris and Piastri, the pressure is mounting on Red Bull and Mercedes to respond. With every race so far delivering a different storyline, the Jeddah Grand Prix promises yet another twist in a season already full of surprises.