The Key Figures of the Bahrain GP

The 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix delivered a strategic, thrilling race full of overtakes, in which Oscar Piastri confirmed his title ambitions with a flawless victory; George Russell shone despite facing setbacks; and the Spanish drivers endured a day to forget. Let’s recap the main protagonists of an intense Sunday in Sakhir.

On the up

Oscar Piastri was undoubtedly the standout name of the Bahrain GP. The Australian McLaren driver put in an impeccable performance, starting from pole position and leading the race without ever seeing his victory in real danger — not even after a late safety car period in the final laps. With a 15-second gap to second-placed George Russell at the finish line, Piastri showcased tire management, pace, and race strategy worthy of a driver fighting to become World Champion. With his second victory of the season, he now sits just three points behind his teammate Lando Norris in the overall standings, proving McLaren is facing a very serious internal battle for the title.

Russell also deserves special recognition. Despite multiple technical issues in his Mercedes — including DRS malfunctions, brake troubles, and electronic sensor failures — and a race strategy that left him struggling on degrading soft tires in the final laps, the British driver stayed focused, resisted pressure from Lando Norris in the closing stages, and secured a hugely valuable second place. A post-race investigation for activating the DRS outside the allowed zone briefly put his hard-earned result at risk, but he ultimately escaped without penalty. He collected eighteen points, placing him fourth in the standings but just fourteen points behind the leader.

On the down

Carlos Sainz managed to break into the top ten on the grid for the first time this season and had a promising start with his Williams, even running as high as sixth during parts of the race. However, a collision with Yuki Tsunoda during an overtaking maneuver caused serious damage to the FW47’s sidepod, forcing him to retire on lap 47. A tough blow for Sainz, who had shown enough pace to potentially score his first points of the season.

Max Verstappen also endured a frustrating Sunday. The Dutch driver suffered two slow pit stops, both lasting over six seconds, and was unlucky with the timing of the safety car. Additionally, his Red Bull never found the pace to compete with the McLarens or Russell throughout the weekend. Despite all this, Verstappen managed to recover to sixth place and remains firmly in the title hunt, just eight points behind Norris.

Driver of the Day

Although Lewis Hamilton was voted Driver of the Day by fans after climbing from ninth to fifth, we want to highlight George Russell’s outstanding performance — without taking anything away from the Ferrari driver’s efforts. The British Mercedes driver masterfully handled a race riddled with technical problems, held off Norris under pressure, and maintained a competitive pace that earned him a well-deserved second-place podium finish.

The Surprise

Pierre Gasly surprised everyone with an excellent performance, finishing seventh and scoring his first points of the season with an Alpine car that had been inconsistent until now. The Frenchman showed composure, executed strategic overtakes, and kept rivals like Ocon and Tsunoda at bay. It was a confidence boost for the French team, finally opening their points tally for the year.

The Disappointment

Kimi Antonelli failed to score points for the first time this season. And yet, at various moments during the race, he truly shone — delivering spectacular moves, great overtakes, and displaying competitive pace. However, Mercedes let him down with poor strategy decisions, and luck was not on his side either, as the safety car reshuffle dropped him to the back of the field, preventing him from fully showcasing his potential. He finished eleventh, narrowly missing out on points, on what could have been a very different day had his team managed his pit stops better.

Consistency Award

McLaren remains the most consistent team in the championship. With Piastri taking the win and Norris finishing third, both drivers have made it onto the podium in every race so far, positioning the Woking-based team as a clear contender for both the Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championships.

Meanwhile, George Russell has secured yet another consecutive podium for Mercedes, consolidating himself as one of the most reliable drivers at the start of the season and a clear title contender. Despite technical adversities, his performances have been one of the brightest notes for the German team.