Life in Formula 1 has its moments of tension, but it’s a formidable spectacle. Just ask Oscar Piastri, who won the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday after converting his great pole position on Saturday into a fantastic victory ahead of George Russell and Lando Norris, who suffered more than his fair share of problems throughout the weekend. Fernando Alonso confirmed what a nightmare Aston Martin is, and Sainz had to retire after a collision with Tsunoda.
Piastri won with ease in the Bahrain GP; Russell (2nd) and Norris (3rd) couldn’t find a way through
A victory that is not only the fourth of his life, but one that makes him a firm and clear candidate for everything. And Lando Norris knows it. Because yes; the papaya is in fashion, and not only in Shakir. But Lando Norris is not alone, nor is Verstappen, who in Bahrain finished far, even further, than expected (6th), overtaking a tough Gasly at the last moment. The Dutchman’s is his worst race result since 2021, the year he became world champion for the first time.
It is true that Max Verstappen made a monument in Japan, but normality reigned in the Persian Gulf with Oscar Piastri’s pole and victory. They have been the favorites since the first free practice, but it is no longer the beating they seemed to be getting. Due to the crash of Norris (3rd starting from 6th place) a Russell who resists, and Leclerc (4th) who shows Ferrari the light they need.
In fact, Lando, at the same time, beat Ferrari to the punch. The Italians got their strategy right, showed ambition in Leclerc and Hamilton (4th and 5th), and the improvements may give them some ambition for the rest of the season. They just needed one more push to fight for the podium.
The start was clean, but much more exciting than the one just a week ago in Japan. Airy Norris, who climbed three places from sixth to third, recovering from a start to the year affected morally, if not athletically.
Piastri, as soon as the chequered flag came down, broke away and Russell moved up to second, while Sainz moved up from eighth to sixth in the Williams, although it would be short-lived as he lost out to Kimi Andrea Antonelli and Verstappen. Alonso, one of four drivers who chose medium tyres at the start rather than soft, dropped several positions in the early laps, until he finally held on, flirting with the back of the grid, as has been the case throughout the weekend.
Carlos Sainz got back on track with a great Williams, but retired due to damage
As the race progressed, McLaren’s dominance became more evident. No one could keep up with Óscar Piastri, who only lost the lead when he pitted to change tires.
Beyond that, the Mercedes of Briton George Russell was unable to keep up with the orange car of the Australian and the distance was considerable throughout. And McLaren’s superiority is so evident that Lando Norris had no complications in getting to the fight for third position with Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari.
Fernando Alonso fights with the ghosts
Carlos Sainz, who throughout the Grand Prix aimed to position himself as the first of the rest of the grid, even reaching 7th and at times 6th, ended up retiring in a horror race, both for him and for Fernando Alonso.
The Madrid-born driver attacked Tsunoda on turn 2 of lap 32 and in the overtaking manoeuvre both cars made contact, sending pieces of carbon fibre flying. As a result, the safety car was deployed and remained out until lap 36. The safety car allowed several drivers to close in on the leader, Piastri. But this only prolonged the dominance of the ’81’, which never relinquished first place. Fifth was Lewis Hamilton after completing one of the best individual performances of the Bahrain GP. The Ferrari driver started ninth and managed to move up four positions.
Then, and just as he was about to watch the race from the garage, Carlos Sainz was once again punished by the FIA and received a ten-second penalty for forcing Antonelli off the track. Finally, the Williams driver from Madrid decided to abandon the Bahrain GP.
Even worse (in terms of performance) was Fernando Alonso. Not only has the Spaniard yet to score any points, but it is also clear that the Aston Martin (17th in Bahrain) needs much more than promises to get back to where it was a year ago, when it was fighting with the Mercedes. In 2023, when the green dream was hatched, the team finished on the podium, the first of five podiums in the first six races. Things will have to improve.