Qualifying Dominance: McLaren’s Oscar Piastri demonstrated exceptional pace and skill, securing his second pole position of the 2025 Formula 1 season in a thrilling qualifying session for the Bahrain Grand Prix. His dominant performance initially saw him finish almost two-tenths of a second ahead of his closest rival.
Close Rivals: Mercedes’ George Russell initially put in a strong effort to secure second place on the grid, highlighting the progress Mercedes has made. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc also delivered a competitive showing, claiming the third spot after the initial qualifying results.
Mercedes Penalized: Grid Penalty: Following the qualifying session, both Mercedes drivers, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, received a one-place grid penalty. Stewards penalized them for being released into the pit lane fast lane before the official restart time was confirmed after Ocon’s Q2 crash. The team admitted the error, attributing it to a misinterpretation of the timing screen information. As a result, Russell will now start third, and Antonelli will start fifth.
Norris Struggles: In contrast to his McLaren teammate, championship leader Lando Norris experienced a less successful qualifying session. Despite high expectations, Norris could only manage to secure the sixth position. This result leaves him with more work to do in the race to maintain his championship lead and challenge for victory in Bahrain.
Verstappen’s Woes: Reigning champion and Japanese GP winner Max Verstappen faced unexpected challenges throughout the qualifying session. Reporting “something wrong with the car” early on, Verstappen struggled with understeer and brake issues. Despite the difficulties, he managed to salvage a seventh-place starting position, demonstrating his resilience.
Q1 Action: The first qualifying session saw early pace-setting from Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso. However, Verstappen’s initial attempt was compromised by a lock-up. Norris then took the top spot, with Piastri and Leclerc closely behind. Verstappen narrowly progressed to Q2. Unfortunately, Albon, Lawson (who had a DRS problem), Bortoleto, Stroll, and Bearman were eliminated in the first session.
Q2 Disruption: The second qualifying segment was temporarily halted due to an incident involving Esteban Ocon. Following the restart, Piastri quickly established the fastest lap. Verstappen and his teammate Tsunoda had limited running due to their respective car issues but managed to squeeze into the top ten. Ultimately, Doohan, Hadjar, Hulkenberg, Alonso, and the unfortunate Ocon were knocked out of Q2.
Q3 Showdown: The final qualifying shootout saw Piastri initially take provisional pole position. He then improved his time on his last lap to definitively secure pole. Russell was his closest competitor initially, but the penalty moved Leclerc up. Gasly secured a commendable fifth place after Antonelli’s penalty, ahead of Norris and a struggling Verstappen. Sainz, Hamilton, and Tsunoda completed the top ten grid positions.
Qualifying Results:
- 1 Oscar Piastri (McLaren/Mercedes)
- 2 Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- 3 George Russell (Mercedes)
- 4 Pierre Gasly (Alpine/Renault)
- 5 Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
- 6 Lando Norris (McLaren/Mercedes)
- 7 Max Verstappen (Red Bull/Honda RBPT)
- 8 Carlos Sainz (Williams/Mercedes)
- 9 Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
- 10 Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull/Honda RBPT)
- 11 Jack Doohan (Alpine/Renault)
- 12 Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls/Honda RBPT)
- 13 Nico Hülkenberg (Sauber/Ferrari)
- 14 Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin/Mercedes)
- 15 Esteban Ocon (Haas/Ferrari)
- 16 Alexander Albon (Williams/Mercedes)
- 17 Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls/Honda RBPT)
- 18 Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber/Ferrari)
- 19 Lance Stroll (Aston Martin/Mercedes)
- 20 Oliver Bearman (Haas/Ferrari)
Summary: Oscar Piastri initially secured pole position in Bahrain, but post-qualifying penalties for Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli have altered the starting grid. Leclerc moves up to second, with Russell starting third and Antonelli fifth. The session was marked by strong performances and strategic errors, setting the stage for an unpredictable race.
Disclaimer: This article reflects the qualifying results and grid penalties as of the time of writing. The final starting grid is subject to confirmation by the FIA.
