Oscar Piastri secured a stunning pole position for the Bahrain Grand Prix, making history for McLaren and proving the team’s impressive form. While the Australian delivered a clean and confident performance, his teammate Lando Norris, who leads the world championship, ended up in sixth place. Max Verstappen, the three-time world champion, also struggled and could only manage seventh on a frustrating day for Red Bull.
McLaren Hits the Front, But With a Twist
Piastri’s pole lap of 1:29.841 marked McLaren’s first ever pole at the Bahrain Grand Prix. The 23-year-old looked sharp all weekend, topping the time sheets in practice sessions and keeping his cool when it mattered in qualifying. He edged out George Russell by just 0.15 seconds, with Charles Leclerc securing third for Ferrari.
“I felt good all weekend. It got close, but I delivered when it mattered,” Piastri told reporters after the session.
The qualifying session, though, wasn’t without drama. Both Mercedes drivers—Russell and rookie Kimi Antonelli—were hit with one-place grid penalties for leaving the pit lane too early after a red flag. The FIA clarified that the penalties were directed at the team rather than the drivers themselves. As a result, their final grid spots were slightly reshuffled, moving Leclerc up to second.
Antonelli’s fourth-place result is impressive on its own. At just 18 years old, the Italian continues to turn heads in his debut season with consistent performances.
Norris Struggles with Grip, Frustrated in Sixth
For Lando Norris, qualifying was a different story. Despite early promise, he dropped to sixth by the end of Q3. He was audibly frustrated over team radio and gave a short response in the press zone.
“No idea what happened. Just not quick enough,” Norris said, referring to a poor first sector on his final flying lap.
The British driver had hoped to fight for pole, especially with McLaren’s strong long-run pace in practice. However, handling problems in the hot and breezy conditions left him unable to match Piastri’s speed.
Red Bull Off the Mark Again in Hot Conditions
Red Bull faced another tough qualifying session. Max Verstappen, who had complained about car balance all weekend, was visibly upset. The team made last-minute setup changes before Q3, which Verstappen later said made things worse. He complained of understeer and brake issues, calling the car “a handful” to drive.
It was another sign that Red Bull continues to struggle in hot, high-degradation environments. Bahrain’s abrasive surface and unpredictable grip levels exposed their weaknesses again—just as it did earlier in the season.
Red Bull had hoped to close the gap in the championship this weekend. Instead, Verstappen now trails Norris by one point, and Piastri is only 13 points off the lead. With tyre management expected to play a huge role in Sunday’s race, Red Bull may need to rely on strategy and Verstappen’s racecraft to recover.
Qualifying Standings and Full Grid Overview
Aside from the front row drama, the rest of the grid featured a mix of surprise performances and struggles.
Top 10 Qualifiers:
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) (after grid penalty reshuffle)
- George Russell (Mercedes)
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
- Lando Norris (McLaren)
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- Carlos Sainz (Williams)
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
- Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull)
Midfield & Backmarking Qualifiers:
- Jack Doohan (Alpine) – 11th
- Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) – 12th
- Nico Hülkenberg (Haas) – 13th
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – 14th
- Esteban Ocon (Alpine) – 15th (after Q2 crash)
- Alex Albon (Williams) – 16th
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – 17th
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) – 18th
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – 19th
- Oliver Bearman (Haas) – 20th
Ocon’s Q2 crash brought out a red flag, though the French driver escaped without injury. The incident didn’t just cut short the session for others but also played a role in the timing misstep that earned Mercedes their grid penalties.
Sunday Strategy: Tyres, Heat, and Recovery
With McLaren showcasing strong long-run pace, all eyes are on Piastri to see if he can convert pole into victory. Norris, despite his poor starting position, will be dangerous over a race distance if McLaren’s form holds.
For Verstappen, the goal will be to avoid tyre degradation early on and execute a smart pit strategy. Bahrain is known for high tyre wear, especially on soft compounds. Teams that can balance early pace with tyre preservation often dominate this race.
Leclerc, starting on the front row after the reshuffle, could be a dark horse. Ferrari has been quietly competitive all weekend, and Leclerc is no stranger to bold starts.
What This Means for the Championship
With just a few races completed in the season, the standings remain close. McLaren has emerged as a serious title contender, not just in terms of car performance but also in consistency. Red Bull, though still strong, must fix its heat-related struggles quickly.
The Bahrain GP promises an exciting race with unpredictable twists. Will Piastri take his first win of the season? Can Norris bounce back? Or will Verstappen once again pull off a recovery drive?