Piastri masterclass in Bahrain as Russell holds onto second

Oscar Piastri claimed his second victory of the 2025 Formula 1® season with a commanding performance at the Bahrain Grand Prix, showcasing McLaren's growing strength in the championship battle. The Australian driver produced a flawless drive to finish over 15 seconds ahead of George Russell in the Mercedes.

Russell's second-place finish was initially under threat following a post-race investigation into a DRS infringement. However, after stewards reviewed the circumstances surrounding the breach, the British driver was permitted to keep his podium position, much to the relief of the Mercedes team.

The McLaren dominance was further cemented with Lando Norris completing the podium in third place. Norris had started the race from sixth on the grid after receiving a penalty, but managed a commendable recovery drive that included a lengthy battle with Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari towards the end of the race.

The Bahrain circuit once again proved challenging for many drivers, with several stewards' decisions affecting the final classification. Nico Hülkenberg was disqualified from his 13th place finish after it was discovered that the plank on his Sauber had worn beyond the minimum permitted thickness of 9mm, a clear violation of the technical regulations.

Meanwhile, Australian rookie Jack Doohan initially crossed the line in 14th place but was handed a five-second penalty for repeatedly exceeding track limits throughout the race. The Alpine driver still managed to be classified 14th in the final results due to the penalties affecting others around him.

Liam Lawson had a particularly eventful race, finding himself in hot water with the stewards after being involved in collisions with both Lance Stroll and Hülkenberg. The Racing Bulls driver received a combined 15 seconds in penalties for these incidents, dropping him from his original 13th place finish to 16th in the final classification.

Leclerc put up a spirited defence against Norris in the closing stages but ultimately had to settle for fourth place, just ahead of his Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton, who crossed the line in fifth.

Reigning world champion Max Verstappen endured a difficult weekend, finishing in sixth place, over 34 seconds behind race winner Piastri. This result represents a rare off-day for the Red Bull driver who has dominated much of the past few seasons.

The Alpine team had reason to celebrate with Pierre Gasly securing a strong seventh-place finish, highlighting the progress the French outfit has made in recent races. Gasly was followed by Haas driver Esteban Ocon in eighth.

Yuki Tsunoda brought his Racing Bulls home in ninth place, while Ocon's teammate Oliver Bearman rounded out the points-scoring positions in tenth.

Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli finished just outside the points in 11th, ahead of Alexander Albon in the Williams. Racing Bulls' rookie Isack Hadjar showed promise with a 13th place finish in just his third Formula 1® race.

Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso endured a challenging race, bringing his Aston Martin home in 15th position, which suggests the team is still struggling to find consistent form this season.

At the back of the field, Sauber rookie Gabriel Bortoleto finished 18th, continuing his learning process in Formula 1®. Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz in the Williams was the race's only retirement, adding to what has been a challenging start to the season for the Spanish driver at his new team.

After securing his second win of the season, Piastri's position in the drivers' championship has been significantly strengthened, and McLaren's performance suggests they could be genuine title contenders this year.

Final Results

1. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
2. George Russell (Mercedes)
3. Lando Norris (McLaren)
4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
5. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
6. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
7. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
8. Esteban Ocon (Haas)
9. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull)
10. Oliver Bearman (Haas)