F1 Bahrain Grand Prix 2025: McLaren Triumphs and Key Highlights
The Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir was ablaze with excitement as it hosted the fourth race of the 2025 Formula 1 season on April 13. The event marked a thrilling competition that saw McLaren clinch their third victory of the year, with Oscar Piastri delivering an outstanding performance throughout the race. He started from pole position and led the race from start to finish, ultimately crossing the finish line ahead of George Russell and Lando Norris, who rounded out the podium. This win catapulted Piastri into second place in the Drivers’ Championship, closely trailing Norris.
In an interesting twist, Lewis Hamilton was named Driver of the Day after starting from ninth position and finishing in fifth place, showcasing his competitive spirit and consistent performance during the race. However, the race was not without its controversies. Lando Norris slightly misaligned his starting position on the grid, a fact that did not go unnoticed by Max Verstappen over team radio. Consequently, Norris incurred a five-second penalty, which he served during his only pit stop of the race.
Another significant event was the disqualification of Nico Hulkenberg, who finished in 13th place. His car, the C45, failed post-race scrutineering due to excessive wear on the wooden plank beneath the floor. Meanwhile, his teammate, Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto, finished in 18th, maintaining his starting position.
Performance Analysis of Teams at the Bahrain GP
The Bahrain Grand Prix was pivotal for several teams, showcasing both struggles and breakthroughs. Below is a detailed performance assessment of the teams that scored points, arranged in descending order based on their finishing positions.
Mercedes-AMG Petronas
The Mercedes-AMG team faced a tumultuous race weekend, grappling with challenges from the outset. During qualifying, both George Russell and Kimi Antonelli faced grid penalties for unauthorized positioning in the pit lane. As a result, they started from third and fifth positions, respectively.
In the race, George Russell emerged as the standout performer for the Silver Arrows, overtaking Lando Norris for second place. Despite battling electrical issues and running on soft tires that had seen over 20 laps of wear, Russell managed to fend off Norris until the end. Unfortunately, Antonelli struggled, finishing outside the points in 11th place, leading to a loss of position in the Drivers’ Championship to Charles Leclerc.
Scuderia Ferrari HP
Ferrari left Bahrain with a sense of accomplishment, achieving their best overall performance of the season thus far. Charles Leclerc continued to impress by finishing fourth after starting in second place. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton, competing for Ferrari, recorded his best result with the team by finishing in fifth place, just behind Leclerc. This performance allowed Hamilton to rise to seventh in the overall drivers’ standings, sharing points with Alex Albon.
Oracle Red Bull Racing
Red Bull faced similar challenges to Mercedes during their first foray into the Middle East for the 2025 season. Max Verstappen qualified in a disappointing seventh position and struggled to regain momentum during the race. Despite his efforts, he could only manage a sixth-place finish, leading to a drop in his standings in the Drivers’ Championship. His teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, finally scored points for Red Bull, finishing in ninth place, although this was still below the team’s expectations for their second driver.
BWT Alpine
The Bahrain GP was a significant turning point for BWT Alpine, as they finally scored their first points of the season. Pierre Gasly, who shone in qualifying by making it to Q3 and starting from fourth, finished the race in seventh place. This result brought much-needed relief to the team. In contrast, rookie Jack Doohan continued to struggle, finishing 14th, three positions lower than his qualifying spot. Gasly’s performance elevated Alpine to ninth in the Constructors’ Championship, ahead of Stake Kick Sauber.
MoneyGram Haas F1 Team
Haas had an impressive outing at the Bahrain GP, marking their third consecutive race in the top 10 and their second race in which both cars scored points this season. Despite a challenging qualifying session that saw Esteban Ocon crash into the wall, he managed to recover, starting from 14th place and finishing seventh. Meanwhile, Oliver Bearman showcased remarkable overtaking skills, starting from the back of the grid in 20th and finishing in tenth. This achievement allowed Haas to leapfrog Williams in the Constructors’ Championship standings.
Teams That Did Not Score Points
Several teams left the Bahrain International Circuit without any points, including Atlassian Williams Racing, Visa Cash App RB, Aston Martin Aramco, and Stake Kick Sauber.
Drivers’ Championship Standings After Bahrain GP
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – 77 points
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 74 points
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) – 69 points
- George Russell (Mercedes-AMG Petronas) – 63 points
- Charles Leclerc (Scuderia Ferrari HP) – 32 points
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes-AMG Petronas) – 30 points
- Lewis Hamilton (Scuderia Ferrari HP) – 25 points
- Alex Albon (Atlassian Williams Racing) – 18 points
- Esteban Ocon (MoneyGram Haas) – 14 points
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin Aramco) – 10 points
Constructors’ Championship Standings After Bahrain GP
- McLaren – 151 points
- Mercedes-AMG Petronas – 93 points
- Oracle Red Bull Racing – 71 points
- Scuderia Ferrari HP – 57 points
- MoneyGram Haas – 20 points
- Atlassian Williams Racing – 19 points
- Aston Martin Aramco – 10 points
- Visa Cash App RB – 7 points
- BWT Alpine – 6 points
- Stake Kick Sauber – 6 points
The next event on the 2025 Formula 1 calendar is set to take place at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on April 20. With the season heating up, teams will be eager to capitalize on their performances and make strategic adjustments for the upcoming race. Fans can look forward to thrilling battles on the track as the competition intensifies in the weeks ahead.
