Formula 1 News: McLarens untouchable in Bahrain GP FP3
The Flex-Wing McLarens were untouchable in final practice for the 2025 Bahrain GP at the Bahrain International Circuit.
–by Mark Cipolloni–
Oscar Piastri turned a lap of 1m31.646s to easily beat his teammate Lando Norris by 0.668s in the superior McLarens. No one else has a chance this weekend.
Charles Leclerc was closest for Ferrari, 0.834s behind Piastri’s Mclaren.
George Russell was 4th for Mercedes, 1.181s behind Piastri while his teammate Kimi Antonelli rounded out the top-5, 1.270s behind Piastri.
Pieere Gasly was 6th for Alpine, 1.328s behind the McLaren.
Isack Hadjar in the Red Bull ‘B’ team car was 7th, 1.377s behind Piastri and ahead of the Red Bull ‘A’ team sled of Max Verstappen in 8th.
How slow is the Red Bull sled? Yuki Tsunoda in the #22 sled, was dead last, 3.319s behind Piastri’s McLaren.
One good thing for Williams is that Carlos Sainz Jr. seems happier – car gremlins notwithstanding. He’s beaten Alex Albon again, and went well here in testing, so seems much more comfortable in the car at this track.
Lap time differences between teammates in FP3:
- Max Verstappen -1.938s Yuki Tsunoda
- Esteban Ocon -1.095s Oliver Bearman
- Fernando Alonso -0.815s Lance Stroll
- Oscar Piastri -0.668s Lando Norris
- Carlos Sainz Jnr -0.661s Alexander Albon
- Charles Leclerc -0.631s Lewis Hamilton
2025 Bahrain GP Practice 3 Results
| Pos | No | Driver | Car | Time | Behind | Laps |
| 1 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes | 1:31.646 | +0.000s | 12 |
| 2 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes | 1:32.314 | +0.668s | 17 |
| 3 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:32.480 | +0.834s | 18 |
| 4 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:32.827 | +1.181s | 12 |
| 5 | 12 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:32.916 | +1.270s | 11 |
| 6 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault | 1:32.974 | +1.328s | 17 |
| 7 | 6 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:33.023 | +1.377s | 14 |
| 8 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:33.027 | +1.381s | 12 |
| 9 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Williams Mercedes | 1:33.092 | +1.446s | 14 |
| 10 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:33.111 | +1.465s | 17 |
| 11 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Haas Ferrari | 1:33.240 | +1.594s | 16 |
| 12 | 7 | Jack Doohan | Alpine Renault | 1:33.347 | +1.701s | 17 |
| 13 | 30 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:33.370 | +1.724s | 13 |
| 14 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:33.548 | +1.902s | 17 |
| 15 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams Mercedes | 1:33.753 | +2.107s | 15 |
| 16 | 87 | Oliver Bearman | Haas Ferrari | 1:34.335 | +2.689s | 17 |
| 17 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:34.363 | +2.717s | 15 |
| 18 | 5 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:34.518 | +2.872s | 15 |
| 19 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:34.636 | +2.990s | 7 |
| 20 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:34.965 | +3.319s | 14 |