Piastri ready for desert duel as McLaren seeks continued podium success

Oscar Piastri is riding a wave of momentum as Formula 1® heads to the Bahrain International Circuit for the season's first night race this weekend. After securing his third podium finish of the 2025 season in Japan, the Australian driver is looking to maintain McLaren's impressive start as they currently top both the Constructors' and Drivers' Championships.

The fourth round of the championship marks a return to Sakhir, where pre-season testing took place back in February. Despite the unusual calendar placement with three races already completed before visiting Bahrain, Piastri enters the weekend brimming with confidence after consecutive podium finishes alongside teammate Lando Norris.

"It has been three very encouraging race weekends so far in 2025. I've felt like I've had very strong pace and I'm taking real momentum with me to Bahrain," Piastri said, reflecting on his impressive form. His recent performance in Japan was particularly special, as he became just the seventh driver in F1® history to score a podium finish on his birthday.

McLaren's MCL39 has proven to be a formidable package in the opening rounds, with the team already accumulating five podiums, including two victories. This strong form has propelled them to the top of both championship tables, with Piastri playing a crucial role in their success. The Australian and Norris have established themselves as the team to beat, scoring more points than any other outfit in each round of the season so far.

The Bahrain International Circuit presents unique challenges for drivers and teams alike. Built with wheel-to-wheel racing in mind, the track offers numerous overtaking opportunities, particularly in the first half of the lap. The heavy braking zone at Turn 1, following a lengthy straight, provides a prime spot for overtaking manoeuvres, while Turns 2, 3, and 4 offer additional chances for drivers to make their moves.

"Bahrain up next! I'm excited to be racing here this weekend," Norris enthused. "It's the first evening race of the season, so I'm looking forward to seeing what we can do in different conditions to what we've had so far."

The evening race format adds another layer of complexity to the weekend. Beginning at dusk and finishing under floodlights, the significant temperature drop during the race can have a substantial impact on car performance. Temperatures can fall from over 25 degrees at the start to as low as 18 degrees by the chequered flag, affecting everything from aerodynamic performance to tyre behaviour.

McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella acknowledges the challenges ahead despite the team's strong start to the season. "After a positive result in Suzuka, we now return to Bahrain ready for the first evening race of the year," Stella said. "The MCL39 has proven to be competitive over the first three races but we remain realistic about the work we have to do to maintain our competitiveness."

The changing conditions will require careful consideration from the McLaren engineers. With two of the three practice sessions taking place during daylight hours, preparing for the cooler evening conditions of qualifying and the race presents a significant challenge. The transition from natural to artificial lighting can also affect driver visibility, sometimes necessitating different visor setups for day and night running.

Another factor to consider is the desert environment. Wind direction can shift by 180 degrees during the day, blowing sand onto the track surface and reducing grip levels. This sand can also find its way into the cars' cooling systems, presenting teams with additional technical challenges to overcome.

Despite these obstacles, Norris remains focused on continuing McLaren's impressive run of results. "We've hit a good momentum with back-to-back double podiums," he noted. "We're so early into the season, but we can already see that every point counts. And that's what we'll continue to aim for – a fun race and more points in the bag. Let's go!"

Stella echoed this sentiment while acknowledging the significance of racing at what he considers McLaren's "second home." "Pre-season testing here in February was relatively positive, but we expect to find slightly different conditions on our return now in April," he explained. "We look forward to seeing everyone again at our second home race in Bahrain. The support we receive here has always been deeply appreciated and motivates us to keep pushing as hard as we can to secure more points, podiums and wins."

As Piastri and McLaren prepare to tackle the Bahrain International Circuit this weekend, all eyes will be on whether they can maintain their championship-leading form in the first night race of the 2025 Formula 1® season.