Piastri storms to controlled victory in Bahrain Grand Prix
Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool
Oscar Piastri emerged as the first multiple race winner of the 2025 season by executing a flawless victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix. Demonstrating a composed and strategic drive, the Australian claimed P1 on his 50th start in F1, marking a significant milestone for both him and McLaren with their first victory in Sakhir.
Piastri, starting from pole position, navigated through a tense moment when Mercedes' George Russell locked up into Turn 1, but the McLaren driver quickly established a strong lead. While his teammate Lando Norris faced early adversity with a five-second time penalty for grid box misalignment, the British driver showcased resilience by climbing through the ranks as the race unfolded.
Despite the potential threat posed by a mid-race Safety Car, Piastri managed a flawless restart, steadily rebuilding his lead to finish with a commanding 15-second margin.
George Russell secured second place, holding off a thrilling late charge from Norris, though the Mercedes driver remains under investigation post-race for a potential DRS infringement. Norris trailed Russell by just 0.774 seconds at the chequered flag, demonstrating an impressive recovery after a challenging Qualifying session.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc settled for fourth place after a hard-fought duel with Norris for the final podium position, while teammate Lewis Hamilton crossed the line in fifth. Max Verstappen clinched sixth place following a difficult race punctuated by pit stop issues for Red Bull.
Alpine's Pierre Gasly garnered the team's first points of the season with a seventh-place finish, closely followed by Esteban Ocon’s Haas in eighth. Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda claimed ninth, with Haas’ Ollie Bearman completing the top ten.
Kimi Antonelli narrowly missed out on points in P11 after a promising run earlier in the race. Alex Albon was the sole Williams finisher in P12, while Nico Hulkenberg took P13 for Kick Sauber, ahead of Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar in P14.
Jack Doohan’s quest for his first points of the season continues as he finished P15. Fernando Alonso had a disappointing race, coming in 16th for Aston Martin. Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson secured P17, burdened by a 10-second penalty for causing a collision with Hulkenberg.
Lance Stroll and Gabriel Bortoleto concluded the classified finishers in 18th and 19th, respectively, while Carlos Sainz was the only retiree of the race due to damage from a collision with Tsunoda.
Overall, Piastri’s win in Bahrain underscores his rising prominence in the sport and highlights McLaren’s competitive edge this season.
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