Oscar Piastri took his first career pole with a commanding 1:29.841 lap in Bahrain, kicking off a qualifying session that was chaotic, revealing, and filled with drama both on and off the track. The McLaren is clearly the fastest car on the grid, but it was Piastri, not Norris, who capitalized. Red Bull looked vulnerable, Ferrari overachieved, Alpine stunned, and the FIA once again fumbled under pressure.
The Starting Grid (Post-Penalties)
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- George Russell (Mercedes)*
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)*
- Lando Norris (McLaren)
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- Carlos Sainz (Williams)
- Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
- Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull)
*Russell and Antonelli each received one-place grid penalties
Piastri Delivers, Norris Implodes
This was the day Oscar Piastri announced himself as a true title contender. While Norris cracked under pressure and qualified sixth, Piastri put together the perfect lap in a car that was expected to dominate. He’s steadily erased the one weakness in his toolkit — qualifying — and now looks like the most complete driver not named Verstappen.
Norris, meanwhile, spiraled. He called his performance dreadful, said he felt like he had never driven an F1 car before, and admitted he’s been struggling all year. The weight of expectation is clearly eating at him. When asked about his performance, he said the team is doing an amazing job, and that he’s just letting them down.
Norris’s mental swings are starting to mirror past frustrations — he now has the car to fight for wins, and instead finds himself off the pace of his teammate and visibly shaken. It’s a contrast that could define McLaren’s season.
Leclerc Overcomes Ferrari Chaos Again
Leclerc somehow wrangled P2 out of the SF-25 despite losing a wing mirror at high speed and setup gremlins. Four rounds in, and Ferrari have already lost him a drink system, botched setups, disqualified a result, and now had his mirror eject itself from the car. Yet here he is, splitting the McLarens. Again.
The man is dragging this car to the front every weekend. Bahrain continues to be one of his strongest circuits — even if his hardware refuses to cooperate.
Gasly Resurrects Alpine
Gasly shocked the paddock with a P4 qualifying effort in what has otherwise been a miserable Alpine season. After weeks of flying under the radar, the Frenchman put in a flawless Q3 lap, besting Verstappen, Hamilton, and Sainz. His performance was so unexpected it briefly sparked legitimate podium hopes — which most fans expect Alpine strategy to immediately ruin.
Alpine’s race pace may not hold, but the qualifying effort alone was a high point in what has been a bruising start to 2025. Gasly’s pace — and mood — finally aligned.
Mercedes: Progress and Pitlane Errors
George Russell continues to be one of the best qualifiers on the grid, but a pitlane release error from Mercedes cost him a shot at the front row. Kimi Antonelli, meanwhile, continues to impress with a P5 effort that places him solidly among the sport’s elite already.
That said, this is just the latest in a long line of Mercedes errors that have undermined Russell’s performances. Between strategy blunders, mechanical issues, and pitlane mishaps, it’s becoming a pattern.
Red Bull: The Decline is Real
Max Verstappen could only manage seventh — and he knew it. The RB21 struggled again with tire temperatures and stability, confirming Red Bull’s fears about hot-weather tracks. Verstappen admitted he’s no in the championship fight, and just a participator.
The car has looked difficult to drive all weekend. Yuki Tsunoda reached Q3 (not just his first time to do so in the RBR car, but the first for any 2nd seat RBR driver this year) but was nearly a second off pole. It’s a decent effort for him, but the overall package isn’t working.
Tsunoda continues to justify Red Bull’s promotion decision with another Q3 appearance. His performances are solid if unspectacular, and while the car limits his ceiling, he’s holding his own in what is clearly a fourth-best team at the moment.
FIA Fiasco: Albon Robbed
The biggest controversy of the day was Hülkenberg’s Q1 lap deletion — which happened 45 minutes after Q1 ended. This late call meant that Alex Albon, who would have advanced to Q2, was already out of the car and unable to continue. Williams has formally requested an explanation.
The FIA later admitted it got it wrong, blaming a delayed review of Turn 11 and conceding that it should have flagged the incident sooner. It’s another credibility hit for the stewards, and Albon and Vowles have every right to be furious. If there’s doubt about a lap, the review should happen before the next session begins.
Final Thoughts: A Race in the Balance
Piastri on pole. Norris reeling. Red Bull wounded. Ferrari hanging on. Mercedes lurking. Gasly in the mix. And Tsunoda quietly competent.
The 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix is shaping up to be a true litmus test for McLaren’s dominance, Piastri’s composure, and the field’s ability to adapt. If Saturday was anything to go by, Sunday might deliver more fireworks than expected.