Oscar Piastri delivered a flawless performance under the lights of Sakhir to claim victory at the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix, making him the first driver this season to notch multiple race wins. The McLaren driver secured the triumph on his 50th Formula 1 start, sealing the team’s maiden victory in Bahrain and reaffirming his status as a serious title contender.
Starting from pole, Piastri kept his cool despite an aggressive lunge from Mercedes’ George Russell at Turn 1. Once out in front, the Australian steadily pulled away, managing the race with composure even as chaos unfolded behind him.
A five-second penalty for Lando Norris, issued after he lined up incorrectly in his grid slot, added early drama for McLaren. But the team showed impressive pace throughout the race, with Norris carving his way back through the pack in a spirited recovery drive.
The biggest test for Piastri came after a mid-race Safety Car threatened to erase his advantage. Yet, the 24-year-old executed a clean restart and swiftly re-established a commanding lead, eventually crossing the line a full 15 seconds ahead of his closest rival.
George Russell held on for second place, though not without scrutiny – the Mercedes driver is under investigation for a potential DRS rules infringement. He had to fend off a late-race charge from Norris, who finished just 0.774s behind after an intense battle.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finished fourth, having tussled with Norris in the closing laps, while teammate Lewis Hamilton claimed fifth. It was a disappointing outing for Max Verstappen, who only managed sixth after encountering issues during both of his pit stops.
Pierre Gasly gave Alpine a much-needed boost with seventh place, followed closely by Esteban Ocon in eighth. Yuki Tsunoda took ninth for Red Bull, while Ollie Bearman brought home a point for Haas in tenth.
Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli narrowly missed the points in 11th after running strongly earlier in the race. Alex Albon was the lone Williams finisher in 12th, with Nico Hulkenberg (Kick Sauber) and Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) behind him in 13th and 14th respectively.
Jack Doohan finished 15th, still hunting for his first points this year, as Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso languished in 16th. Liam Lawson could only manage 17th after a 10-second penalty for a collision with Hulkenberg. Lance Stroll and Gabriel Bortoleto rounded out the classified runners, while Carlos Sainz became the race’s only retiree after contact with Tsunoda left his Williams too damaged to continue.
Piastri’s dominant showing sends a clear message to the grid: the McLaren resurgence is real, and the title fight is wide open.
