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Oscar Piastri’s Bahrain Win Wasn’t Just a Victory—It Was a Power Statement

The 2025 Bahrain GP delivered one of the most electrifying races of the season so far and a new victory for McLaren.

Por: Rubén Carrillo April 13, 2025

While Oscar Piastri sailed to his second win of the year, his teammate in McLaren, Lando Norris, fought tooth and nail for a hard-earned podium / Photo Bahrain 2025

With strategic gambles, fierce wheel-to-wheel battles, and high-stakes drama throughout, the 2025 Bahrain GP served up a true spectacle of modern Formula 1.

While Oscar Piastri sailed to his second win of the year, his teammate in McLaren, Lando Norris, fought tooth and nail for a hard-earned podium (3rd place behind George Russell-Mercedes Petronas).

Meanwhile, Max Verstappen (Red Bull Oracle) endured a nightmare outing, and Carlos Sainz’s race ended in disaster.

Piastri Stamps His Intent on the Championship

Oscar Piastri is not here to play support—he’s here to fight for the championship.

The Bahrain GP unfolded almost flawlessly for the Australian driver, who controlled the race with calm precision.

It was a weekend where everything clicked for him: solid qualifying, excellent tire management, and clean execution in every stint.

While the race around him descended into chaos, Piastri kept his head down and delivered a commanding performance that placed him firmly in the title conversation.

Norris Fights Through the Field, Despite Penalty

The race weekend didn’t start as smoothly for McLaren teammate Lando Norris.

A misplaced grid position at the start led to a five-second penalty after a quick tip-off by none other than Max Verstappen over team radio.

Even so, Norris put on a show. Starting from sixth, he surged to third place within the first sector on soft tires, showcasing McLaren’s blistering pace in the early stages of the Bahrain GP.

Despite the penalty and some position shuffles throughout the race, Norris never gave up.

His resilience and late-race composure ensured McLaren walked away with two podium finishes—a major win for the team at the Bahrain GP.

Verstappen’s Worst Outing of the Season

For Max Verstappen, the Bahrain GP was a race to forget. His Red Bull RB21, plagued with setup issues and poor tire degradation, simply wasn’t competitive.

Things only got worse during pit stops when a malfunctioning pit light delayed both him and Yuki Tsunoda.

Verstappen slipped down the order and, despite clawing back to finish sixth, this was by far his most challenging race of the year.

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Chaos in the Desert: Safety Car and Strategic Shakeups

The Bahrain GP once again proved why it’s one of the most entertaining circuits on the calendar.

Unexpected tire degradation added complexity to strategies, and even though Pirelli brought the hardest compound range, it wasn’t enough to prevent pit stops from arriving earlier than expected.

The turning point came when Yuki Tsunoda collided with Carlos Sainz.

The incident sent debris flying and effectively ended Sainz’s race, as his Williams suffered extensive floor damage. His retirement brought out the Safety Car, which flipped strategies upside down.

Rookies like Kimi Antonelli had to switch to a three-stop strategy, while Fernando Alonso’s promising run on medium tires was disrupted.

Alonso and Sainz Left Empty-Handed

While the McLarens celebrated, the Spanish drivers had nothing but frustration.

Carlos Sainz’s early exit was a bitter blow, especially as he had shown competitive pace in the early laps.

Fernando Alonso, on the other hand, could only muster a 16th-place finish, as his AMR25 lacked the performance to challenge even the midfield.

It’s a worrying sign for Aston Martin, whose development seems to have stalled.

Questions & Answers

Who won the 2025 Bahrain GP? Oscar Piastri took victory with a calm and calculated race.
What penalty did Lando Norris receive during the Bahrain GP? He received a five-second penalty for incorrect grid positioning at the start.
Why was Max Verstappen's race in Bahrain difficult? He struggled with car performance and a delayed pit stop due to a faulty pit light.
What caused the Safety Car to come out during the Bahrain GP? A collision between Yuki Tsunoda and Carlos Sainz led to debris on the track and Sainz’s retirement.