McLaren dominate Bahrain Friday as Norris and Piastri shine under desert lights

TDT | Manama

Email: hussainm@newsofbahrain.com

Norris Leads the Way 

Lando Norris continued his blistering early-season form by topping the timesheets in the opening practice session of the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix today. But as the sun dipped behind the grandstands and the lights came on over the Sakhir desert, it was his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri who took centre stage.

Piastri Steals the Spotlight in Twilight FP2

Piastri delivered an impressive performance in the cooler FP2 session, clocking a 1:30.505 to lead Norris by 0.154s, with Mercedes' George Russell a distant third. The papaya cars were in a class of their own, lighting up the Bahrain International Circuit and sending a strong early message in the season opener.

Rookie Watch 

The contrast between sessions was stark. FP1 and FP2, both held today, gave six rookies a chance to showcase their talent as part of the young driver mandate. Williams’ Luke Browning impressed with a P13 finish, Ferrari’s Dino Beganovic and Aston Martin’s Felipe Drugovich followed close behind, while Red Bull's Ayumu Iwasa completed the rookie roster in P19 after limited running. Kimi Antonelli’s debut for Mercedes was cut short by a water pressure issue, though he bounced back strongly in FP2 to place fifth overall.

Incidents and Setbacks Shake Up the Grid

The early drama didn’t stop there. Yuki Tsunoda found himself in the stewards’ room after a peculiar pit-lane run-in with Alex Albon, who battled clutch gremlins but still managed to briefly top the FP1 screens. The Japanese driver continued to grapple with Red Bull’s new RB21—what he referred to as “a science room” in terms of complexity—finishing 18th in FP2.

Verstappen and Alonso Hit Trouble in FP2

And while Norris impressed early with a 1:33.204 lap in FP1, the real show began once all 20 regular drivers returned for the representative FP2 session. Max Verstappen, notably absent from FP1, endured a difficult evening stint in his Red Bull, citing a “very bad ride” and locking up at Turn 10. Fernando Alonso, meanwhile, was forced back to the pits with steering issues that disrupted his run plan entirely.

Soft Tyres, Strong Pace 

McLaren’s one-two at the top of the FP2 leaderboard came as teams trialled different tyre compounds in the twilight. Pirelli’s soft rubber proved king, with the Woking outfit putting almost half a second on the rest of the field. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc slotted into fourth, ahead of Antonelli and Racing Bulls’ rookie Isack Hadjar.

Festival Vibes  

Off the track, the Bahrain International Circuit delivered its signature energy. Fans explored cutting-edge F1 simulators, bustling merch shops, and the colourful Bahraini Village with traditional majlis seating, cuisine, and music. Street performers and entertainers gave the venue a carnival feel, adding to the festival atmosphere surrounding the opening race weekend.

McLaren’s Momentum Builds  

Despite not topping both sessions, Norris looked comfortable and composed throughout the day, suggesting McLaren could finally end their long podium drought at this venue — their last top-three finish here came in 2010. With Piastri matching his teammate step-for-step, the team appear poised for a serious push in 2025.

The Stage Is Set  

With FP1 and FP2 completed today, all eyes now turn to FP3 tomorrow afternoon, followed by the all-important qualifying session under the Sakhir lights. Then on Sunday, the stage will be set for the highly anticipated Bahrain Grand Prix — the first chapter in what promises to be a thrilling 2025 Formula 1 season.