Oscar Piastri stunned the grid with a composed and commanding win at the Bahrain Grand Prix, holding off George Russell to take the top step of the podium. But while McLaren celebrated, chaos, controversy, and confusion swirled behind them.
Max Verstappen, plagued by braking issues and bizarre pit stop delays, finished a disappointing sixth. The Red Bull driver has now called for an investigation into a suspected fault with the automated pit light system, which he described as “one I’ve never seen before.” Team Principal Christian Horner confirmed the issue stemmed from a malfunction in the garage gantry wiring, forcing a manual override mid-race.
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton, in only his second race for Ferrari, issued a candid admission: “I’m not happy, not comfortable,” he told Sky Sports. Finishing fifth, Hamilton cited the drastic differences in driving style between Ferrari and his former team, Mercedes. He’s still adjusting to engine braking, Brembo brakes, and a new car setup philosophy, openly confessing: “I know I can do better—and I will.”
But perhaps the most compelling storyline came from Lando Norris, who despite a podium finish, admitted something “isn’t clicking.” Starting from P6 after a disastrous qualifying, Norris managed to claw his way to third but was visibly frustrated post-race: “I’m surprised I’m achieving anything at the minute with how I feel in the car.”
Adding insult to injury, Norris was handed a five-second penalty for a grid position error—ironically reported by Verstappen—and had to give a place back to Hamilton after an off-track overtake, before reclaiming it moments later.
Elsewhere, George Russell briefly found himself in hot water for a DRS violation outside of permitted zones, but ultimately escaped penalty. His gritty drive earned him second place and praise from Toto Wolff, who called it “an unbelievable performance under tough conditions.”
As the dust settles, McLaren’s momentum is undeniable, with Piastri now in second in the championship standings—just three points behind Norris. Verstappen has dropped to third, and Red Bull are facing mounting pressure to solve their car’s reliability issues.
It’s only the second race of a 24-race calendar, but the Bahrain Grand Prix has already lit a fire under the 2025 F1 season. With title momentum swinging, rivalries reigniting, and technical gremlins emerging, one thing’s certain:
This championship fight is wide open.
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