Perfect Piastri secures sensational Bahrain victory as Norris recovers to podium

Oscar Piastri has become the first repeat winner of the 2025 F1 season with a commanding victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

The Australian driver successfully navigated a race that heavily relied on strategy as he crossed the line ahead of George Russell in second place.

Lando Norris ensured he retained his championship lead with a run to third place as he narrowly missed out on the runner-up spot on the podium.

Piastri fends off early threat as Norris penalised

Piastri faced a minor threat from Russell in the braking zone of Turn 1, but the Australian managed to hold onto the lead.

It wasn’t long before team-mate Norris found himself in a spot of bother as he was handed a five-second time penalty for being out of his grid box when the lights went out to signal the start of the race.

Norris served his penalty on lap 11 when he came in for a pit stop for medium tyres, with Verstappen also coming into the pits on the same lap, fitting the hards.

Russell pitted from second place several laps later and only just re-merged ahead of Norris in a net second place, after the McLaren driver had served his penalty.

Race leader Piastri swapped to the medium tyres one lap after Russell, ensuring he stayed ahead of the Mercedes man.

Having committed to the medium compound at the start of the race in contrast to the softs for rival teams, Ferrari pitted both of its drivers at the end of lap 17 for another set of mediums.

Verstappen struggles before safety car shakes race up

As Verstappen went deeper into the race on his set of hard tyres, the Dutchman struggled for grip and found himself being passed by Antonelli and Hamilton.

Further ahead, Leclerc put Norris under pressure and on lap 25, progressed into the final spot on the podium with a successful overtake.

The second Ferrari of Hamilton also put his medium tyres to good use as following his move on Verstappen, the seven-time champion dispatched of Antonelli and Ocon.

Lap 27 saw Verstappen call time on his hard tyres as he made his second stop for a set of mediums.

However, the race received a shake-up on lap 32 as a safety car was deployed to clear up debris at Turn 3 which was deposited following minor contact between Tsunoda and Sainz.

Run to the flag

Most of the field pitted under the safety car, however tyre options varied. Both McLarens opted for the mediums, while Ferrari chose the hard.

Mercedes, meanwhile, had the soft compound equipped and at the restart on lap 36, Russell looked to put the pressure on race-leader Piastri - but the McLaren driver could not be toppled.

Following a squabble with Hamilton that saw him forced to hand a position back after overtaking off the track, Norris consolidated fourth with a successful move at Turn 4.

As he chased Leclerc for the final spot on the podium, a lock up at the opening corner for Norris put a dent in his chase. But as he followed the Ferrari driver for several laps, Norris managed to make an overtake stick around the outside at Turn 4.

In the final laps, Norris attacked Russell for second place but couldn't make a move stick and had to settle for third.

Hamilton was fifth on the road, a positive result following his struggles during qualifying, following team-mate Leclerc home.

Pierre Gasly showed strong pace throughout as he crossed the line in seventh, as he got pipped by Verstappen at the death.

A strong strategy for Haas saw the American squad score a double points finish with Ocon and Bearman taking the chequered flag in eighth and 10th respectively.

Yuki Tsunoda scored his first points of the season as he crossed the line in ninth place.