McLaren made another huge statement early in the 2025 season with a dominant win from Oscar Piastri. The Australian driver broke the team's duck at the Bahrain International Circuit after 22 visits, cruising to victory and handing them a valuable 58-point lead at the top of the Constructors’ Championship standings.
Mercedes’ George Russell continued his fine start to the season, once again making the most of his Silver Arrow to finish in second place ahead of title contender Lando Norris, who settled for third after a scrappy day at the office for the 25-year-old Brit.
The Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships are beginning to take shape as early as the fourth race of the season. With every team struggling to keep up with the pacey Macca, here are the three key talking points from Bahrain, as analysed by Obakeng Meletse.
Oscar Piastri packs a heavier punch than he lets on
Piastri had calm hands on the wheel, with every move planned and precise. The 24-year-old was dominant throughout the race weekend, backing it up with a strong showing in qualifying to secure pole position ahead of George Russell and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
There are just three points separating the two McLaren drivers, and while it remains unclear who will lead the team’s charge later in the season, McLaren have shown promising signs in their title defence.
Often cast as Norris’ understudy, Piastri moves with a quiet grace — and his calm demeanour remains unshaken, even in victory. His recent performances have forced McLaren’s hand in adding him to the championship contenders’ list, especially as Norris’ inconsistent start has left the door ajar.
George Russell has the makings of a future champion
Mercedes have not always had the fastest car on the grid, but the former Williams driver has been a model of consistency since replacing Valtteri Bottas in the Silver Arrow.
His second-place finish was the best for the team so far this season and has helped him climb to fourth in the Drivers’ Championship, just 14 points behind leader Norris. Though he crossed the line 15.4 seconds behind winner Piastri, Russell stayed composed under late pressure from Norris and continued to collect valuable points.
Mercedes now sit second in the Constructors’ standings, with a car that has proven itself to be the second quickest on the grid so far.
Red Bull and Ferrari pick up a handful of points in their midfield battle
Max Verstappen and his Red Bull team’s echoes of last season’s victory at the same circuit faded into unfamiliar silence. The Milton Keynes-based outfit endured a weekend to forget, managing just a sixth-place finish for Verstappen (eight points), while new teammate Yuki Tsunoda secured his first two points for the team in ninth.
Last year, Verstappen and then-teammate Sergio Pérez delivered a commanding one-two, but that level of dominance was sorely lacking this time around.
Meanwhile, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc (fourth) and Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton (fifth) went as far as their machinery allowed, unable to keep pace with McLaren and Mercedes. Still, the 22 points between them helped narrow the gap to third-placed Red Bull to just 14 points heading into Saudi Arabia this coming weekend.