SAKHIR, Bahrain – In a captivating Bahrain Grand Prix, Oscar Piastri emerged as the dominant force, securing a comfortable victory and reducing his teammate Lando Norris`s championship advantage to a mere three points.
Piastri, starting from pole position, expertly managed the race, pulling away after a safety car period and clinching his second season win, marking his fourth Formula 1 career triumph.
The margin of victory for Piastri was 15.4 seconds, a figure that only partially reflects the exciting competition that unfolded behind him.
Following his win, Piastri expressed his delight, stating, “It`s fantastic to achieve this result here. It`s been an amazing weekend, from yesterday`s qualifying to executing the race today in style. I`m particularly proud to do it in Bahrain, a significant race for our owners and a track that hasn`t traditionally favored us. It`s great to finally secure our first team win here.”
Mercedes` George Russell played a crucial role in tightening the championship race, finishing second and successfully defending against Norris in the final laps. Russell executed what he described as a bold 24-lap stint on soft tires to conclude the race.
Throughout the race`s final stages, Russell reported gearbox concerns and DRS malfunctions. Stewards investigated and cleared him of any wrongdoing regarding DRS usage, confirming no unfair advantage was gained.
Russell commented, “It initially felt controlled, but then suddenly we experienced a brake-valve wire failure. The pedal travel became erratic, and the steering wheel malfunctioned, making it challenging to keep Lando behind. I believe another lap and he would have overtaken me easily. Nevertheless, I am very satisfied with P2.”
Norris, who confessed to being “clueless” about optimizing his McLaren`s performance on Saturday, started sixth and navigated a tumultuous race to secure a podium finish.
The British driver incurred a five-second penalty for an incorrect grid start position, adding to a race marked by errors during wheel-to-wheel battles.
Norris ran wide while battling Charles Leclerc and later went off-track to overtake Lewis Hamilton, necessitating him to concede the position. It was an uncharacteristically messy race for the preseason favorite.
Norris acknowledged his errors, stating he made “too many mistakes with the overtakes.”
He added, “It was a messy race from my side, and I`m disappointed we couldn`t secure a McLaren one-two, which would have been fantastic. It`s a tough race, but there are still positives to take away.”
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton from Ferrari finished fourth and fifth, respectively. Ferrari`s strategic decision to start their drivers on offset tires compared to the top ten was somewhat undermined by a timely safety car intervention, which neutralized the strategic advantage. Until that point, Ferrari appeared well-positioned to contend for a podium spot.
Max Verstappen overtook Alpine`s Pierre Gasly late in the race to claim sixth place, yet Gasly`s seventh position marked Alpine`s first points of the season, a significant achievement for the team.
Esteban Ocon recovered from his qualifying crash to deliver a strong performance and finish eighth, while Yuki Tsunoda secured ninth place, earning his first points for Red Bull.
Oliver Bearman completed the top ten, making it a double points finish for Haas, continuing the American team`s positive start to the season.
Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli experienced an eventful race, showcasing aggressive late-braking maneuvers and engaging in a wheel-to-wheel battle with Verstappen, ultimately finishing 11th, highlighting areas for refinement for the 18-year-old.
Liam Lawson received two penalties, dropping him to 17th. A five-second penalty was for causing a collision with Lance Stroll, and a ten-second penalty for a later incident with Nico Hulkenberg.
