Oscar Piastri dominates Bahrain GP practice ahead of qualifying

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri leads third practice session as teammate Lando Norris follows, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen struggling.

Oscar Piastri of Australia drives the #81 McLaren MCL39 Mercedes during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain at Bahrain International Circuit on April 12, 2025, in Bahrain. Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Oscar Piastri dominates Bahrain GP practice ahead of qualifying, sending a strong message to the rest of the grid that McLaren is not here to play. The Australian driver continued his impressive form on Saturday, leading the third and final practice session for the Bahrain Grand Prix with a blistering lap time of 1 minute 31.646 seconds. Piastri’s pace, paired with the strong performance of his teammate Lando Norris, who finished second, has put McLaren in prime position for a front-row lockout when qualifying gets underway.

This performance builds on Friday's practice results, where Piastri also topped the second session. In a weekend where track temperatures soared and grip levels proved unpredictable, the young Australian seemed unfazed, extracting maximum performance from his McLaren.

McLaren shows supremacy in Bahrain heat

Under the scorching desert sun, where track temperatures affected most of the field, McLaren thrived. Norris, while six-tenths behind Piastri, was still comfortably ahead of the rest of the pack. The pair were the only two drivers to dip into the low 1:31s, reinforcing the idea that McLaren has nailed their setup early in the weekend.

In contrast, Max Verstappen appeared to struggle throughout the session. The reigning world champion, who is usually among the frontrunners, ended up in eighth place. He was more than a second behind Piastri’s benchmark and even went off track in Sector 2, expressing clear frustration over the radio.

"Yeah, that's terrible," Verstappen said after his lap, prompting his team to bring him in for adjustments. Red Bull’s usual dominance appeared distant in the face of McLaren’s pace.

Ferrari’s upgrades deliver mixed results

Ferrari entered Bahrain hoping to bounce back from an underwhelming start to the season. Despite Lewis Hamilton’s win in the Chinese sprint, Ferrari’s form over full weekends has been inconsistent. In practice, Charles Leclerc briefly showed promise but ultimately finished third, nearly eight-tenths off Piastri.

The Maranello-based team brought a host of upgrades, but the early signs suggest McLaren is still ahead. George Russell and rookie Kimi Antonelli followed in fourth and fifth, respectively, while Leclerc’s teammate Carlos Sainz didn’t feature among the top positions, underlining Ferrari’s ongoing struggles.

Mercedes had a quiet session, though George Russell did briefly lead before the McLaren drivers improved. Russell described the lack of grip as the worst he’s experienced in an F1 car.

“I’d probably say that’s the least amount of grip I’ve had in an F1 car,” he radioed to his engineer.

Surprises and disappointments in the midfield

Behind the frontrunners, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly delivered a solid drive to finish sixth, ahead of RB rookie Isack Hadjar. The Frenchman looked comfortable on a track that caught several drivers out with its inconsistent grip.

Hamilton could only manage tenth, a disappointing session for the seven-time champion, especially with Mercedes hoping to capitalize on Ferrari’s inconsistencies.

Elsewhere, Liam Lawson, stepping in again for RB, was 13th, while Yuki Tsunoda, who lost his Red Bull seat last weekend, was a surprising last. His difficult weekend adds pressure to an already uncertain future with the team.

Nico Hulkenberg’s session ended early when his Sauber came to a halt, bringing out a virtual safety car. The German's mechanical issue capped a difficult day for the team, which has been languishing at the back of the grid since the season opener.

Piastri’s rise continues as McLaren hunts pole

Oscar Piastri’s performance in Bahrain is the latest sign of his maturity and speed in only his second full season in Formula 1. After securing his maiden win at the Qatar Sprint in 2023 and continuing to rack up solid results, Piastri seems ready to take the next step.

“I’m feeling confident with the car and enjoying the rhythm of the weekend,” he told reporters after the session. “The car feels strong, and hopefully we can carry this momentum into qualifying and the race.”

The prospect of a McLaren front-row lockout is now a realistic one, and should that happen, it would mark a significant turning point in the team’s resurgence under team principal Andrea Stella.

What to expect in qualifying and race conditions

While third practice offers valuable insight, it's worth noting that qualifying and the race will take place under cooler conditions after sunset. The drastic temperature drop is likely to affect tire performance and car balance. Teams will need to adapt quickly to the changing track conditions to extract the best results.

Nevertheless, McLaren’s dominance in the heat bodes well for their race prospects. Even if grip improves after dark, the fundamental pace shown by both Piastri and Norris indicates they are the team to beat.

Red Bull, meanwhile, will be hoping to regroup. Verstappen has a reputation for turning things around under pressure, but if he fails to qualify near the front, Sunday’s race could prove more challenging than usual.

Ferrari and Mercedes remain in the hunt but appear to be chasing shadows compared to the McLaren duo. The final practice session has clarified one thing: Oscar Piastri is not just a rising star—he’s a genuine contender for victory in Bahrain.

With pole position up for grabs and championship points at stake, the stage is set for an electrifying qualifying session under the lights in Sakhir.

Stay tuned as Oscar Piastri leads the charge and looks to convert his blistering pace into a career-defining pole position at the Bahrain Grand Prix.