Piastri snatches Bahrain GP pole from Russell and Leclerc
Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool
In a high-stakes qualifying session for the Bahrain Grand Prix, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri emerged as the frontrunner, securing pole position with a brilliant timing of 1:29.841. Piastri outpaced George Russell of Mercedes and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc in an intense battle, while his teammate Lando Norris settled for a sixth-place start.
McLaren, who set the pace during practice sessions, dominated Q1 and Q2. However, it took a concerted effort in Q3 to maintain their supremacy. Piastri's decisive final lap was a couple of tenths faster than Russell's best attempt. Leclerc trailed by another tenth-and-a-half, claiming third spot on the grid.
Kimi Antonelli, delivering a noteworthy performance for Mercedes, secured the fourth position. However, both Silver Arrows drivers are under scrutiny for potential rule breaches and face post-session investigations. Alpine's Pierre Gasly had an impressive run, earning fifth place. Championship leader Norris underperformed in his second attempt, positioning himself just ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who was hampered by brake issues.
Carlos Sainz recorded his best qualifying session of the season, placing eighth. Lewis Hamilton, also in a Ferrari, faced setbacks with a lap deletion due to track limits, landing him in ninth. Yuki Tsunoda completed the top ten with his Red Bull.
Jack Doohan showcased his talent early on, peaking as high as fifth in Q1. However, he narrowly missed out on Q3, finishing 11th. Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso followed in 12th and 13th positions respectively. Haas driver Esteban Ocon, who made it through to Q2, crashed dramatically exiting the second corner, causing red flags and settling for 14th place.
It was a challenging session for Alex Albon, who after a strong start to 2025, recorded a Q1 exit. The Williams driver could not match the pace set by his new teammate Carlos Sainz on the final runs. However, a technicality saw him promoted to 15th after Nico Hulkenberg's lap times were deleted. Kick Sauber's driver took 16th place.
Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson faced a DRS issue, qualifying 17th. Gabriel Bortoleto of Sauber and Lance Stroll of Aston Martin followed, lining up 18th and 19th, respectively. Ollie Bearman, fresh off his first Q3 appearance from the previous Japanese Grand Prix, struggled this time, finishing 20th after errors marred his final Q1 lap.
As the grid gears up for Sunday, all eyes will be on Piastri, who aims to convert his pole position into a race victory amidst a competitive field.
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