On Sunday, April 13, 2025, Oscar Piastri celebrated a remarkable milestone in his Formula One career by clinching victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix, marking his 50th race in the sport. The McLaren driver showcased a masterful performance, leading from pole position to finish over 15 seconds ahead of his nearest rival, George Russell of Mercedes. This win not only secured Piastri's place as the first repeat winner of the season but also propelled him to second in the championship standings, just three points behind his teammate Lando Norris.
The race unfolded under the floodlights of the Sakhir circuit, a venue significant for McLaren as it is owned by their Bahraini shareholders. Piastri, who had an impressive start, managed to fend off a near collision with Russell at Turn 1, allowing him to build a substantial lead. Despite a mid-race safety car that temporarily neutralized his advantage, he handled the restart with finesse, pulling away decisively to secure the win.
“It’s been an incredible weekend, starting off with qualifying yesterday and it was nice to finish the job in style today. I can't thank the team enough for the car they've given us – it was pretty handy out there!” Piastri exclaimed after the race. His victory not only signifies personal achievement but also marks a historic first win for McLaren at their home circuit in Bahrain.
Lando Norris, who started sixth, faced a challenging race after receiving a five-second penalty for a jumped start. However, he showcased his skills by fighting back to finish third, ensuring a double podium for McLaren. “An up and down race today. Some frustrating mistakes but still plenty of positives to take away with a strong points finish for the team in Bahrain,” Norris said, reflecting on his performance.
George Russell managed to hold off a late charge from Norris to secure second place, despite facing significant technical challenges during the race. “That was a really challenging race. We had some problems in the last 12 laps including a brake-by-wire failure,” Russell revealed. The stewards investigated him for an alleged DRS infringement but ultimately decided against imposing a penalty as they found no sporting advantage was gained.
Behind the top three, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finished fourth and fifth, respectively. Leclerc had a strong start, but the timing of the safety car disrupted his strategy, preventing him from capitalizing on the front-runners. “There are no regrets after a race like this, we just need to find some more pace,” he stated post-race.
Max Verstappen, who had a difficult race with Red Bull, came in sixth after struggling with tyre management and slow pit stops. He expressed his frustration, saying, “P6 was at least a positive result considering all the things that went wrong today.”
Alpine's Pierre Gasly finished seventh, marking a significant achievement as it was the team's first points of the season. He executed a solid race strategy, adapting well to the changing conditions. “I am very happy for the entire team that we scored our first points of the season in seventh place,” Gasly commented.
Esteban Ocon of Haas drove an impressive race to finish eighth, while Yuki Tsunoda earned Red Bull's first double points finish of the year by coming in ninth. Oliver Bearman rounded out the top ten, securing a point for Haas after starting from the back of the grid.
Despite the challenges faced by many teams during the race, Haas celebrated a successful outing with both drivers finishing in the points. Team Principal Ayao Komatsu expressed pride in the team's performance after a difficult qualifying session. “It was another amazing team effort,” he said.
Meanwhile, the race also highlighted the struggles of other teams. Aston Martin had a disappointing outing, with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll finishing far down the order, unable to compete with the midfield pack. “We didn’t have the pace all weekend and especially tonight,” Alonso lamented.
As the teams prepare for the next race in Jeddah, the Bahrain Grand Prix served as a crucial turning point in the season. With Piastri now a serious contender for the championship, the upcoming races promise to be thrilling as the teams continue to battle for supremacy in the highly competitive Formula One landscape.
In the constructors’ standings, McLaren leads with 151 points, followed by Mercedes with 93. As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Piastri and Norris to see if they can maintain their momentum and continue to challenge for the title.
