Bahrain once again delivered an exciting race, suggesting McLaren`s Oscar Piastri could be a strong contender 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 remain calm under pressure 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 by becoming an evening race since 2014, coinciding with the arrival of hybrid cars.
The track surface, laid down in 2004, retains bumps and character, unlike many modern circuits, which provides a good test for cars and drivers. The harsh asphalt, designed to withstand extreme heat and sandstorms, also significantly challenges tire performance, adding another layer of complexity to the races.
This race saw all three tire compounds in use, with teams employing varied strategies. A safety car on lap 32, needed to clear debris from Carlos Sainz`s damaged Williams, further complicated these strategies.
The safety car was a necessary intervention due to the debris` proximity to the racing line and the difficulty of safely retrieving it under a virtual safety car. A full safety car was the safer and more effective solution.
Norris` Potential Second Place
Lando Norris, starting from sixth after a challenging qualifying, made an excellent start, quickly moving up to third. However, in his eagerness to maximize his grid position, he slightly overstepped his grid box, incurring a five-second penalty served during his first pit stop.
Despite this penalty and being boxed in by Ferraris after the safety car restart, Norris`s McLaren demonstrated enough pace for him to potentially finish second.
George Russell, driving a Mercedes with braking and electrical issues, delivered an outstanding performance to secure a podium finish. His strong start and ability to manage car issues made this race arguably one of his best in F1, and a timely reminder of his abilities as contract negotiations approach.
Piastri`s dominant performance, along with Russell and Norris on the podium, placed Ferrari in fourth and fifth. Ferrari drivers noted improvements from an updated underfloor, but despite the safety car bunching up the field, Charles Leclerc finished 20 seconds behind Piastri, and Lewis Hamilton 28 seconds back.
Ferrari showed good pace in the stint before the safety car, having delayed their first pit stops, but significant progress is still needed to close the gap to the front. The team faces the challenge of rapid development under cost cap regulations, especially with the major 2026 rule changes on the horizon.
Red Bull Faces Challenges
Even Max Verstappen`s skill couldn`t overcome Red Bull`s difficult weekend. The car appeared challenging to handle, with Verstappen visibly struggling in braking zones throughout the sessions. After a long stint behind Pierre Gasly, Verstappen managed to pass him on the final lap to finish sixth, hampered by slow pit stops.
Yuki Tsunoda secured points for Red Bull in ninth, but considering the team`s victory at the Japanese GP just a week prior, the Bahrain result is perplexing and undoubtedly a topic for serious discussion within the team.
Gasly`s seventh place for Alpine, after starting fourth, was a significant achievement, marking Alpine`s first points of the season and highlighting his strong qualifying and race performance.
Williams initially showed promise, particularly with Sainz starting in the top 10. However, Sainz dropped positions and was later involved in a collision with Tsunoda and Antonelli, leading to a penalty and eventual retirement.
Alex Albon finished 12th for Williams, while Haas capitalized on opportunities, with Esteban Ocon finishing eighth and Ollie Bearman impressively securing tenth from the back of the grid. Haas`s tire strategies demonstrated that tire compound choice was less critical than tire freshness in this race.
Haas now sits fifth in the Constructors` Championship, ahead of teams like Aston Martin, who are struggling, with Fernando Alonso yet to score points. Numerous incidents and penalties kept the stewards busy throughout the race, and Nico Hulkenberg`s Sauber was disqualified post-race for excessive skid plate wear.
With little respite, the F1 circus now moves to the high-speed Jeddah circuit in just a few days.
Marcus Prine