Richard Parks As the 2025 Formula One season enters its fourth round, the spotlight turns to Bahrain, where McLaren may finally break through at a track that has long troubled the team. With back-to-back wins by Lando Norris in Australia and Oscar Piastri in China, McLaren appears to be in top form. This weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix could shift the momentum in the title race and test whether Red Bull and Max Verstappen can keep pace. With the desert heat and high tyre wear at play, Bahrain promises to reveal who is truly ahead in the 2025 championship battle.
McLaren Looks to Overcome Bahrain Struggles
Bahrain has never been a winning track for McLaren. The team has struggled with tyre degradation and race pace in past visits to the Sakhir circuit. But 2025 may mark a turning point. McLaren showed strong speed in pre-season testing and backed that up with race wins in the last two Grand Prix events.
Oscar Piastri, who took victory in China, acknowledged the team’s past issues at Bahrain but remains hopeful. “This has never been a great track for us,” he said, “but we’re as confident as we’ve ever been. We’re in a position to win this weekend.”
High track temperatures and heavy tyre wear will test every team’s strategy. McLaren’s recent ability to manage tyres could be a key advantage.
Verstappen Stays Close in the Standings
Despite McLaren’s momentum, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen remains just one point behind Lando Norris in the standings. Verstappen’s clean drive in Japan, where he dominated despite limited overtaking chances, proved he’s still a major threat. However, that race favored Red Bull’s low-degradation setup.
In Bahrain, the conditions will be very different. Verstappen will need to adapt to remain competitive and potentially reclaim the lead in the drivers’ championship.
Internal Rivalry Brewing at McLaren?
While McLaren’s speed is undeniable, their greatest challenge may be internal. Both Norris and Piastri are now in title contention. In Japan, Norris expressed frustration with the team’s strategy. He felt a more aggressive pit approach could have given him a chance to fight for the win.
“I’m here to win races, not settle for second,” Norris said post-race. The team also faced criticism for not allowing Piastri to attack Verstappen late in the race. Some argue McLaren’s equal treatment of both drivers may cost them victories.
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner warned that letting both drivers race freely might hurt McLaren. “They’ll take points off each other,” he noted, “and that might help Max stay in the fight.”
McLaren Dominates Bahrain Practice Sessions
So far, McLaren looks strong in Bahrain. Both practice sessions saw the team on top:
- In FP1, Norris was fastest, ahead of Pierre Gasly (Alpine) by two-tenths of a second.
- In FP2, Piastri led the pack, one-tenth quicker than Norris and a full half-second ahead of George Russell (Mercedes).
- Verstappen was seventh in FP2, trailing by eight-tenths.
These results show that McLaren has pace not only for qualifying but also for race day. Team principal Andrea Stella remains optimistic. “Having two top-level drivers is a strength,” he said. “It pushes us forward and improves the car.”
Bahrain Could Redefine the 2025 Title Race
If McLaren can convert its practice form into a race win on Sunday, it would mark the team’s first-ever victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix. More importantly, it would confirm them as the top contender in this year’s championship race.
The stakes are high. A McLaren win would not only extend their lead in the standings but also shake up the title dynamics. Meanwhile, Red Bull must respond quickly to avoid falling behind.
As Formula One heads into the heat of Bahrain, all eyes are on McLaren to see if they can end years of desert disappointment and truly become the team to beat.