The Bahrain Grand Prix once again delivered an exciting race, positioning McLaren`s Oscar Piastri as a potential frontrunner for this year`s championship.
Piastri has effectively recovered from the points lost in Melbourne and continues to demonstrate remarkable speed combined with composure. His ability to manage emotions on track is reminiscent of legendary drivers like Alain Prost.
For Bahrain, the track owners, and a significant part of the McLaren team, this race marked a long-awaited home victory after 21 years. The Bahrain circuit, once considered less thrilling, has been transformed into an engaging venue since it transitioned to a night race in 2014, coinciding with the arrival of hybrid cars.
The track surface, laid down in 2004, retains bumps and character, providing a real test for both cars and drivers. The demanding asphalt, designed to withstand extreme heat and sandstorms, is also tough on tires, introducing strategic variability to the races.
This race saw all three tire compounds in play, with teams adopting diverse strategies. A safety car on lap 32, needed to clear debris from Carlos Sainz`s damaged Williams, further complicated strategic decisions.
Race control rightly deployed the safety car due to the debris` dangerous position on the racing line, necessitating a controlled collection process.
Norris`s Potential Second Place
Lando Norris, starting from sixth after a challenging qualifying, made an outstanding start, quickly moving up to third. However, an attempt to maximize his grid position resulted in a five-second penalty for being slightly out of his grid box.
Despite this setback, Norris demonstrated McLaren`s strong pace and arguably should have finished second. He got caught behind Ferraris after the safety car restart, losing crucial position.
George Russell, despite facing braking and electrical issues in his Mercedes, drove exceptionally well to secure a podium finish. His performance was particularly timely as he seeks a new contract for 2026 and beyond, amidst rumors of Max Verstappen`s potential availability.
Piastri maintained a dominant lead, while Russell and Norris completed the podium, leaving Ferraris in fourth and fifth. Ferrari drivers expressed satisfaction with car upgrades, but Charles Leclerc finished 20 seconds behind Piastri, and Lewis Hamilton was 28 seconds back.
Ferrari`s strategy of delaying their first pit stops initially showed promise, but significant improvements are needed to challenge the front runners. The pressure is on to find performance gains quickly, given the upcoming races, budget constraints, and the major rule changes in 2026.
Red Bull`s Difficult Weekend
Even Max Verstappen`s skill couldn`t salvage Red Bull`s challenging weekend. The car appeared difficult to handle, with Verstappen visibly struggling in braking zones throughout the sessions. He finished a distant sixth, hindered by slow pit stops and equipment problems, only managing to pass Pierre Gasly late in the race.
Yuki Tsunoda secured points for Red Bull with a ninth-place finish, but considering the team`s victory at the Japanese GP just a week prior, the Bahrain performance is perplexing and likely to trigger serious discussions within the team.
Gasly, starting fourth, finished seventh for Alpine, a result that understates his strong qualifying and race performance, securing the team`s first points of the season.
Williams initially showed promise, particularly with Sainz starting in the top 10. However, after dropping positions and a collision with Tsunoda, Sainz received a penalty and ultimately retired. Alex Albon finished 12th.
Haas capitalized on opportunities, with Esteban Ocon finishing eighth and Ollie Bearman impressively recovering from a back-of-the-grid start to finish tenth. Tyre strategy proved less critical than tire freshness, as demonstrated by Ocon and Bearman`s varied compound choices.
Haas now sits fifth in the Constructors` Championship, ahead of teams like Aston Martin, who continue to struggle, with Fernando Alonso yet to score points.
The race was marked by numerous incidents and penalties, keeping the stewards busy. Nico Hulkenberg`s Sauber was disqualified post-race for excessive skid plate wear.
With little respite, the F1 circus moves to the high-speed Jeddah circuit in a few days.
