Sakhir, Bahrain – Oscar Piastri of McLaren made history by clinching victory at the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix, marking the team’s first ever win in Bahrain and his own second win of the season. Piastri led the race from pole position, finishing 15.499 seconds ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell after a dominant performance through 57 laps.
Piastri started strongly, maintaining a 6.8-second lead until a Safety Car was called on Lap 32 due to debris on the track. This allowed the drivers to make their second and final pit stops. As the race resumed, Piastri held his composure, swiftly restoring his lead and crossing the finish line unchallenged.
George Russell secured second place after fending off McLaren’s Lando Norris, who finished third despite receiving a five-second penalty due to a false start from sixth on the grid. Russell noted, “We had a strong race, but Oscar was on another level today. It was difficult to keep pace with him.”
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finished fourth and fifth, respectively, while reigning World Champion Max Verstappen struggled to find his rhythm, finishing in sixth place. “It wasn’t our day. We’re not where we need to be,” Verstappen stated post-race.
This win is significant for McLaren, as it ends a long wait for success in Bahrain since their last podium here in 2010. Team Principal Andrea Stella emphasized the victory’s importance, saying, “This is a very meaningful win for us, especially since Bahrain is like our second home.”
Notably, Piastri’s performance marked his 50th Grand Prix start and his 30th consecutive point-scoring weekend. He is now the 49th driver in F1 history to achieve a ‘hat-trick’: winning from pole with the fastest lap. “I’m incredibly grateful for the team and all their support. We executed a solid race today,” Piastri said after the race.
Further down the order, Red Bull’s Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar faced challenges. Lawson received two time penalties due to collisions and finished 16th, while Hadjar placed 13th after a disappointing start. Hadjar explained, “It was not the start we hoped for, and the Safety Car ruined our strategy.” Lawson echoed his teammate’s frustrations, saying, “We had pace but could not capitalize on it from the back.”
In celebration, McLaren’s CEO Zak Brown remarked, “To see Oscar dominate so impressively, it’s incredible. Both drivers are showing remarkable form, which gives us plenty of excitement moving forward.” With this result, McLaren leads the championship standings, ahead of their competitors, setting the stage for an exhilarating 2025 season.
