Round 4 of the 2025 Formula 1 season is here, and we head to the Middle East for the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Bahrain GP: Round Two of the Season’s First Triple Header
The Bahrain GP marks the second round of 2025’s first triple header – and the season’s first night race.
The Australian and Asian rounds have already set the tone, and storylines are beginning to take shape.
McLaren are clearly the fastest team so far, but Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Mercedes’ George Russell will remain constant obstacles to dominance if current form continues.
Ferrari, meanwhile, are still struggling to make their mark – though they showed flashes of potential in China, with Lewis Hamilton taking pole and winning the Sprint.
Suzuka may have been a snoozefest, but Bahrain should offer plenty of overtaking opportunities and play a significant role in shaping the early title fight.
While the Bahrain GP promises more action, drivers will have to navigate tricky conditions: strong winds, floodlights, fluctuating temperatures between sessions, and the notoriously tricky downhill left-hander at Turn 10.
Will Lando Norris extend his lead in the championship, or will Max Verstappen or Oscar Piastri step in to shake things up?
Papaya Rules and Max Verstappen
McLaren’s Lando Norris has led the title race from the very start of the season, but he hasn’t been without challengers.
His teammate, Oscar Piastri, looks hungry for wins in 2025 – and he already has one to his name this year.
Then there’s the ever-present threat of Max Verstappen. While the Red Bull may not be the fastest car this year, Verstappen still has the pace and determination of a multiple world champion.
Piastri may sit 13 points behind the lead, and Verstappen just one, but it’s far too early to count the Australian out.
McLaren’s “Papaya Rules” also suggest the team haven’t counted him out either – and rightly so. The season is still young.
With just three of 24 races completed, each of Norris, Piastri, and Verstappen has already claimed a win.
Norris triumphed in the season opener in Melbourne, Piastri took the victory in China, and Verstappen won in Japan.
All three have offered glimpses of the battle that lies ahead – and what a fight it could turn out to be, especially if Mercedes and Ferrari manage to join the fray.
The Bahrain GP, however, may be tricky for McLaren, who have historically struggled at this circuit. Keep a close eye on Verstappen, who scored a dominant grand slam here last year.
READ MORE: Marko: Piastri “looked like the faster driver” for McLaren in Japan
History Has Something to Say
Mercedes and Ferrari are the most successful teams in the history of the Bahrain GP, with six wins apiece. Ferrari’s most recent victory came in 2022 with Charles Leclerc, while Mercedes last won here in 2021 with Lewis Hamilton.
Ferrari may not be where they want to be right now, but Bahrain could be the ideal circuit for them to assess how best to approach the rest of the season.
“With the fourth race of the season taking place in Bahrain, we get the opportunity to see how much progress we have made with the SF-25 in terms of extracting its potential since we were last here for the pre-season test at the very end of February,” he said.
“We are not where we want to be in terms of car performance, and we are working hard with the aim of making solid progress.
“This will be our main focus in Sakhir, with the support of those working back at the factory in Maranello.
“Even the smallest detail can be important over the weekend, because gaining just one tenth can mean being ahead of some of our rivals, both in Saturday’s qualifying and in Sunday’s race.” – Fred Vasseur, Ferrari team principal.
The Scuderia are expected to bring upgrades to Bahrain – though there may be a split in strategy or momentum between their star-studded driver lineup.
Mercedes, on the other hand, have had a promising start to 2025 – especially compared to their form since the introduction of the new regulations in 2022.
George Russell currently sits P4 in the Drivers’ Championship and has embraced the leadership role at Mercedes with confidence, delivering strong performances in the early rounds.
Don’t count him out for a win here – it may seem far-fetched, but the Silver Arrows are looking confident, and Bahrain has often been a happy hunting ground for them.
The Yuki Tsunoda and Rookies Watch Continues
This season has already proven interesting when it comes to the rookies – and, as usual, the drama surrounding the second Red Bull seat.
Japan saw Yuki Tsunoda make his Red Bull debut, replacing the struggling Liam Lawson, who was demoted to Racing Bulls.
While Tsunoda couldn’t secure a points finish at his home race, he did perform better than Lawson had in the previous two rounds – showing flashes of the potential Red Bull clearly sees in him.
Lawson, on the other hand, looked much more comfortable back with Racing Bulls – a team he already knew well, having replaced Daniel Ricciardo there last season.
His new teammate, Isack Hadjar, has had a shaky yet promising start to his rookie year. After missing the season opener almost entirely, the French-Algerian bounced back with a P11 finish in China and then a solid P8 in Japan.
Elsewhere, the rookie class continues to impress. Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Haas’ Oliver – or rather, Ollie – Bearman have both started the season strongly.
Antonelli has finished in the top six in all three rounds so far, while Bearman has scored points in China and Japan. Both have shown encouraging pace and a fearless approach to overtaking.
It hasn’t been quite as smooth for Alpine’s Jack Doohan and Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto, but much of their struggle can be attributed to the cars beneath them.
That said, Bahrain is a true racing circuit, and it could give us the clearest picture yet of what each driver is truly capable of this season.
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Bahrain GP Weekend Schedule
With so many stories unfolding — from Red Bull’s driver shuffle to the rookies proving their worth – Bahrain is shaping up to be a crucial round for teams and drivers alike.
And the best part? You won’t have to wake up at the crack of dawn to catch the action.
We’re heading to the Middle East, and this night race could shake up the order once again.
Will McLaren continue their momentum? Can Red Bull strike back? Or will Mercedes or Ferrari pull a surprise out of the bag?
Whatever happens, you won’t want to miss it.
Friday
Free Practice 1: 12:30-13:30 BST
Free Practice 2: 16:00-17:00 BST
Saturday
Free Practice 3: 13:30-14:30 BST
Qualifying: 17:00-18:00 BST
Sunday
Race: 16:00 BST
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Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Xinhua
Recording Date: 05.04.2025
