McLaren’s Bahrain Glory: Perfect Piastri Leads F1 Title Race

TDT | Manama

Email: hussainm@newsofbahrain.com

After a flawless start, Oscar Piastri was untouchable, charging into the lead and never looking back. With McLaren’s strategy team delivering perfectly, the Australian stayed composed through a Lap 33 Safety Car and took the chequered flag at what can rightly be called McLaren’s home Grand Prix — with the team majority-owned by Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund, Mumtalakat.

“Pretty special to do it in Bahrain, it’s been a long road to get here,” says Oscar Piastri.

Piastri’s Makes History

It was a landmark moment as the 23-year-old Australian sealed his second win of the 2025 season, becoming the first Australian in nearly 15 years to lead the Formula 1 World Championship. His lights-to-flag dominance at the 21st edition of the Bahrain Grand Prix underlined his title credentials — and sent a clear message from the McLaren camp: they are here to win.

Flawless Start, Unstoppable Lead

After a strong start from pole position, Piastri made a clean getaway despite a close call with George Russell, who locked up into Turn 1. From there, he steadily built a solid lead, eventually crossing the line with a 15-second advantage. This win marked his 50th F1 start and McLaren’s first win in Sakhir.

Russell and Norris Fight Back

Behind Piastri, George Russell of Mercedes pushed hard but couldn’t close the gap, finishing second, while Lando Norris completed a spectacular recovery from a five-second penalty to take third place, less than a second behind Russell. Norris overtook Charles Leclerc in the latter stages, securing valuable points for McLaren.

Strategic Mastery  

The race was shaped by strategic gambles, with McLaren choosing mediums, Ferrari opting for hards, and Mercedes betting on softs. A mid-race Safety Car, triggered by contact between Yuki Tsunoda and Carlos Sainz, reshuffled the grid, forcing teams to react quickly. The restart was critical for Piastri, who made a clean getaway and managed to rebuild his gap.

The Standings 

Max Verstappen struggled throughout the race with issues at both his pit stops, ultimately finishing sixth. Charles Leclerc was fourth, with Lewis Hamilton in fifth. Pierre Gasly delivered a solid result for Alpine, finishing seventh, while Esteban Ocon added to Haas’ tally with an eighth-place finish. Tsunoda and Oliver Bearman completed the top ten.

Surprises and Retirements

Further down the order, Kimi Antonelli finished just outside the points in 11th, while Alex Albon claimed 12th. Nico Hulkenberg was 13th, followed by Isack Hadjar in 14th. Jack Doohan finished 15th, with Fernando Alonso and Liam Lawson struggling to make an impact, finishing 16th and 17th, respectively. Lance Stroll and Gabriel Bortoleto completed the final positions, while Carlos Sainz retired after a collision with Tsunoda.

Victory with Meaning  

But all eyes were on Piastri, who celebrated not just a dominant win, but one that resonated deeply with his team’s Bahraini backers. As the paddock packs up for Jeddah, McLaren sits on top — in the standings, and in spirit.

2025 Bahrain Grand Prix Results:

1. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 1:35:39.435
   
   

2. George Russell (Mercedes) – +15.499s
   
   

3. Lando Norris (McLaren) – +16.273s
   
   

4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +19.679s
   
   

5. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – +27.993s
   
   

6. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – +38.522s
   
   

7. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – +47.931s
   
   

8. Esteban Ocon (Haas) – +1 lap
   
   

9. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) – +1 lap

10. Oliver Bearman (Haas) – +1 lap