Battle to Max in Sakhir?

Verstappen, fresh from Suzuka victory, also won on his last two visits to Bahrain

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SAKHIR, Bahrain – McLaren's Lando Norris holds a wafer-thin advantage over four-time world champion Max Verstappen going into this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix. AFP Sport looks at five storylines ahead of the fourth race of 24 in the 2025 Formula One season.

Momentum With Max

Max Verstappen arrives in Bahrain fresh from one of the best weekends of his life, on the track at least, in Japan.

After a sublime pole on April 5 in Suzuka, he held the McLarens at bay with a controlled drive to haul a Red Bull car that has yet to reach its full potential over the line to move one point behind Britain's Lando Norris in the world championship.

He has won on the last two trips to Sakhir, with Red Bull posting a 1-2 in both races.

While that may be a tall order with Yuki Tsunoda facing a steep learning curve in just his second run-out for Red Bull since dramatically replacing Liam Lawson, Verstappen is in the mood to kick up a sandstorm in the Bahrain desert.

The 27-year-old Dutchman conceded he would still need to "push the car to the limit", but is approaching the weekend with a spring in his step.