Piastri's Ice-cold Resolve in Desert Heat

The 2025 Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix saw Oscar Piastri pull off a calm and collected drive to win in a race full of strategic variations

- Gaurav Davare

IF ONE COULD TAKE THE 2025 FORMULA 1 Japanese Grand Prix as a sample size, you would think it was a private competition between the four-time reigning champion, Max Verstappen (Oracle Red Bull Racing), and the two McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. However, factors such as the track layout, surface, and climate make such a difference that big swings in the pecking order can be seen.

That was exactly what happened at the 2025 Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix as a close qualifying session saw Oscar Piastri take pole position, ahead of George Russell (Mercedes), with Charles Leclerc (Scuderia Ferrari) in third position. Verstappen struggled to seventh position and even the championship leader, Norris, had a scrappy lap, settling for sixth.