Formula 1 News: Oscar Piastri wins 2025 Bahrain GP from pole

No. 81 McLaren ace Oscar Piastri took the lead from pole, and despite a lap 33 safety car that wiped out his lead, never put a wheel wrong and won the 2025 Bahrain GP at the Bahrain International Circuit.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

“Great to have this result out here,” said a happy Piastri.

“It’s been an incredible weekend, to finish the job today in style was nice. I can’t thank the team enough for the car they’ve given us, it is pretty handy out there.

“It’s never been a track that’s been kind to us, so it’s nice to finally get a result here.

“I would have preferred not to have [the Safety Car] but I was still pretty confident. It was relatively straightforward. I was never going to let that one go.”

Driving the other superior McLaren, Lando Norris made a late pass on Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari with 6 laps to go to take the final podium position and almost got 2nd after a great battle with the Mercedes of George Russell, who ended up 15.499s behind Piastri.

“It felt all under control, and then suddenly we had a brake-by-wire failure, so the brake pedal was going long, it was going short… One more lap and Lando would have got me,” said Russell.

“Oscar was in a league of his own, so congratulations to him and McLaren. But for ourselves, four races, three podiums at different kinds of tracks is pretty good.

“We were having all sorts of failures, one lap I clicked the radio button and the DRS opened. I hit close and backed off, so didn’t gain any advantage.”

There is a post-race investigation coming for Russell for a DRS incident, so Norris may yet end up in 2nd.

In a race that had plenty of passing compared to the possession Japanese GP, Norris brought the #4 McLaren home in third, 16.273s behind Piastri.

“A tough race. I made too many mistakes with the overtakes, and out of position. A messy race from me and disappointed not to bring home a 1-2 for McLaren,” said Norris.

Norris received a 5-second penalty for starting the race outside his start box.

“It was good racing throughout so no complaints, good overtakes, on the limit as it should be so good fun. [Russell] did a good job, I thought I’d be able to get him.

“I’ll try and step it up for next weekend.”

The Ferraris of Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton rounded out the top-5, 19.679s and 27.993s behind Piastri respectively.

Driving the Red Bull RB21 sled, Max Verstappen passed Pierre Gasly in the #10 Alpine in Turn 9 for 6th and Gasly was 7th, 36.002s behind Piastri.

Esteban Ocon, Yuki Tsunoa and Oliver Bearman took the final point paying positions, in 8th, 9th and 10th.

Carlos Sainz Jr. was the only retirement after a disastrous afternoon that spiraled out of control due to the damage the Williams suffered from contact with Yuki Tsunoda. Sainz also received a 10-second penalty for forcing Kimi Antonelli off the track who finished 11th.

In the drivers’ championship Norris safeguarded his lead, but saw Piastri close to within three points as he jumped Verstappen for second. Verstappen now trails Norris by 10 points, with Russell heading to next week’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 14 units behind.

2025 Bahrain GP Results – 57 Laps

Note: Lawson received a five-second time penalty for causing a collision and a 10-second time penalty for causing a collision. Doohan received a five-second time penalty for track limit infringements.