F1 2025 GP Bahrain: Oscar Piastri, the new favorite?

By making a perfect weekend, Oscar Piastri returns just a few points from Lando Norris. McLaren will have to face a probable duel for the title between his two pilots. Is the Bahrain Grand Prix a first turn of the season?

Piastri, l’go up on Norris?

If McLaren once again confirmed his superiority at the start of the season, it was especially Oscar Piastri who struck a big blow. In pole on Saturday, the new Zealander then led 54 of the 57 laps, signed the best lap and finally won his 2^e victory of the season, after China. Piastri confirms above all that it is not n ° 2 at McLaren. Has he imposed a morale of Lando Norris? The Briton, only 6^e 4 -tenth qualifications from his teammate, has still rose in 3^e Position in the race, thanks in particular to an excellent start, but it does not seem to be in an excellent mental condition.

Recognizing that he has “struggled” with the car since the start of the season, Norris made a beginner error by positioning himself badly on the starting grid, which earned him a penalty. Can the internal duel at McLaren turn into it? In the composure of Piastri, whose McLaren praised “maturity”, Norris still presents a feverish face. He admits lacking in confidence and making too many mistakes.

Russell heroic

With a 3^e Podium in 4 races, George Russell confirms that the Mercedes is well born. English is fast and regular. Above all, he managed to overcome countless electronic problems and DRS on his car! While rumors, as we see a little further, already animate the next transfer window, English is obviously about to be renewed in gray. Andrea Kimi Antonelli was also very efficient, and author of incredible braking “at La Ricciardo”. He continues to enthron for such a young beginner, but he was not helped by SC and Mercedes’ strategy.

Ferrari, not that yet

For Ferrari, this race marks a slight better, but the gap still seems important with McLaren and even Mercedes. Without a safe-car that has fallen at the wrong time, a Rossa might have ended up on the podium. Charles Leclerc had a very good rhythm but the SC has thwarted its strategy and it must be satisfied with the 4^e place. Ferrari are not biting enough in qualifying, which, necessarily, penalizes racing strategies. Lewis Hamilton is not yet fully at ease, as evidenced by his little P9 in qualifying, but the Englishman showed a better face in race, performing several incisive overtaking to go back to the 5th^e place.

Refictions Red Bull

For Red Bull, the crisis seems to be clearing. While Suzuka had been a “divine surprise” with the high -flying pole and the victory of Max Verstappen, the Austrian team was dropped this weekend. Max Verstappen had to settle for a 6^e place, 34 seconds from the winner. Red Bull met in trouble on stops at the stands. At the end of the Grand Prix, the world champion seemed frustrated and annoyed ” When you have no balance, no tire management, or tire management less good than that of others, on this circuit, it’s worse. If we know where to find them, yes, it will be better. But there … you have to ask the team because there, I don’t know. »»

The fire seems covered, and Helmut Marko recognizes for the first time that a Verstappen departure towards other heavens is not impossible. A little later, Marko was seen in full discussion quite tense with the manager of Verstappen, Raymond Vermeulen. The activation of an alleged “outing clause” in the Dutch contract is on many lips, and the rumor machine swells. But to go where?

If we have already heard of rapprochements between Verstappen and Aston Martin and even Ferrari, it is a transfer to Mercedes which was relaunched by the rumor machine. Obviously, Toto Wolff remained very discreet, and we already remember that last year, in the midst of a business Horner who called into question the presence of Verstappen at Red Bull, the Austrian manager had not hidden his attraction for the Batavian. And as it is rumored in the paddock that Mercedes may have in his hands the best 2026 engine, the scenario could try the world champion. But all this should quickly be put on the closet with an extension of Russell.

Small consolation batch for Red Bull… the 2^e car finally scored points! Yuki Tsunoda finished 9^e Place, about ten seconds from its leader. We had to go back to Las Vegas in 2024 to see the 2^e Red Bull enter the top 10!

Alpine comes out of the red, the Renault engine takes it for its rank

Alpine finally unlocks her counter! The French team scores its first points thanks to Pierre Gasly, who first signed a superb 5^e place in qualifying, before winning the 7^e place. And again, the Frenchman weighed up because he lost the P6 against Verstappen in the last round. Behind, Jack Doohan is only 14^e But showed a good rhythm, not going far from the Q3. Anyway, Alpine progresses. The chassis seems to have a lot of potential, but we can only see the exasperation that surrounds the Renault engine. Pierre Gasly said “The sectors where we waste time are clear. On the straight lines, we are lagging behind, while we are very good in fast turns like Eses in Japan. »» Words that were corroborated by Carlos Sainz, which was amazed by the speed of the Alpine during the turns. And Flavio Briatore to drive the nail : “” Without the engine deficit, we would be on the front line “.

To finish on the right points, Bravo also in Haas who places his two cars in the points. Above all, Esteban Ocon catches his big stupidity of qualifications very well, since the Frenchman had left in the wall on a piloting error. A notch below Bearman in pure speed, the Normand made his experience and know-how in gum management speak to win a beautiful P8, supplemented by the P10 of the young British. Haas is thus 5^e of the builder championship, with 20 points against 19 in Williams.

The hierarchy of the “Mid Field” changes from one race to another, because the differences are very tight. This time, Williams and Vcarb were disappointing. Carlos Sainz has further abandoned, knowing a fairly catastrophic start to the season. On the side of Racing Bulls, Isak Hadjar did not make miracles while Liam Lawson was guilty of two contacts and two penalties! Aston Martin also sinks into the crisis, with Alonso only 15^e et Stroll 17^e !

In the pilot championship, Lando Norris (77 points) is now followed by his teammate Oscar Piastri (74 points) And Max Verstappen evolves in 3rd place with 69 units. Charles Leclerc (32 pts) and Lewis Hamilton (25 pts) are already far away.

On the side of the stables, it is already difficult to see how the title could escape McLaren (151 pts) which already has 58 points ahead of Mercedes (93pts), 80 points on Red Bull (71 pts) and almost 100 points already on Ferrari (57pts)!

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