SAKHIR, Bahrain — Oscar Piastri is poised to make a significant move in the Formula 1 title race after securing pole position for the Bahrain Grand Prix, while current championship leader Lando Norris and reigning world champion Max Verstappen find themselves further down the order.
The McLaren driver edged out George Russell in a dramatic qualifying session on Saturday, showcasing that McLaren remains the team to beat in the 2025 F1 season.
However, post-qualifying penalties reshuffled the grid. A procedural error by Mercedes cost both Russell and teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli a spot on the grid each. As a result, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc inherits a front-row start alongside Piastri, while Russell drops to the second row and Antonelli slips to fifth.
Grid Shake-Up Ahead of Bahrain Grand Prix
-
Oscar Piastri – Pole position
-
Charles Leclerc – Starts P2 after penalty reshuffle
-
George Russell – Starts P3
-
Andrea Kimi Antonelli – Starts P5 despite P4 qualifying
-
Lando Norris – Starts P6 after underwhelming session
-
Max Verstappen – Starts P7 after grip and braking issues
-
Lewis Hamilton – Starts P9 in difficult Ferrari debut season
-
Yuki Tsunoda – Starts P10, chasing Red Bull’s first non-Verstappen point since November
“No Idea What to Fix,” Says Norris
Despite leading the championship by a single point, Norris admitted post-session that he was baffled by his car’s behavior and felt completely disconnected on track.
“I have no idea what to fix. I’m just going to sleep and hope it’s better tomorrow,” Norris said.
Norris’ teammate Piastri, on the other hand, looked composed and confident as he pulled off his first pole of the season, giving McLaren a powerful advantage heading into Sunday’s race.
Verstappen Caught Out by Grip Issues
Max Verstappen, fresh off a win in Japan, faced unexpected braking and grip challenges, leaving him down in seventh. The Red Bull ace expressed uncertainty heading into the race:
“We’re not sure what to expect at the moment.”
His new teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, starts in tenth and hopes to become the first Red Bull driver other than Verstappen to score points since last year’s Las Vegas Grand Prix.
F1’s Youngest Star Continues to Impress
18-year-old Kimi Antonelli, who made headlines last week by becoming the youngest driver ever to lead a lap in a Grand Prix, starts from fifth and continues to impress in his debut season with Mercedes.
Can Piastri Capitalize?
With the front of the grid shaken up and both title contenders starting mid-pack, Oscar Piastri has a golden opportunity to claim his second career win and potentially leap to the top of the drivers’ standings. All eyes will be on Bahrain when the lights go out at 1500 GMT on Sunday.
Quick Recap:
-
🏁 Oscar Piastri on pole as McLaren dominates qualifying
-
🔄 Grid reshuffle promotes Leclerc to front row
-
❌ Norris and Verstappen off the pace and confused
-
🧒 Antonelli shines again at just 18
-
🔥 Race start: 1500 GMT – don’t miss what could be a key moment in the 2025 title race
