Following each Grand Prix, we present the RaceReport, offering you an exclusive and playful digital recap of the race weekend. Reporter Frank Woestenburg brings you the latest from Bahrain!
STRANGE ANTICS
Do they have a thing for racing in Bahrain? Certainly on the public roads. On our daily route from the hotel in the capital, Manama, to the circuit and back, you see plenty of drivers performing the wildest and most dangerous stunts. ‘If you no longer go for a gap that exists, you are no longer a racing driver,’ Ayrton Senna once said. His words are echoed daily in the sandbox that is Bahrain.
One of the strangest incidents I saw was on Thursday. Someone parked their car on the hard shoulder of a busy thoroughfare, a passenger got out who then, risking their own life and with an impressive sprint, crossed both sides of the highway. It was probably the shortest route home…
At the Bahrain International Circuit, near the paddock, there’s a large tent with a new slogan on the roof: ‘The desert never sleeps’. Well, that’s true. In Saudi Arabia, it’s strictly forbidden to consume alcohol, but in neighboring Bahrain, they’re more lenient. So, the Saudis come over in droves in the evenings and especially towards the weekend, honking their way through the streets of Manama deep into the night in search of bars and other entertainment. Luckily, I have a room on the sixteenth floor, which somewhat limits the disturbance.
During the races, things are much calmer both around and on the track. This is understandable, with temperatures reaching towards forty degrees. Some visitors can be found lounging in the shade on mats, puffing on hookahs. The on-track battles largely pass them by. Do the residents of Bahrain truly have an affinity for motorsport? The question answers itself.
ROOKIES IN BAHRAIN
MAX’S QUOTE
“I’m only focusing on our own car, that’s all I can do. Yes, I’ve seen the footage of McLaren’s (moving, ed.) rear wing. I don’t make the rules and I don’t have to enforce them. What I see, probably a lot of people see, but that’s it. Does Formula 1 offer a level playing field when it comes to flexible wings? If it’s allowed, then yes, right? Everyone is always pushing the limits and then it’s up to the FIA to determine what is and isn’t allowed. Everyone tries their best and some people might interpret the regulations differently than others.”
Highlights and Lowlights
Who or what stood out? Or, conversely, who or what fell short? After every Grand Prix, we present the highlights and lowlights of the race weekend! This time, the focus is on race winner Oscar Piastri and his teammate Lando Norris.
Top Performer: Oscar Piastri
Oscar Piastri had a flawless weekend in the sands of Bahrain. On Saturday, he confidently secured pole position and a day later, he drove straight from the start to his second victory of the season. In the World Championship standings, he has closed the gap to his teammate Lando Norris to just three points and has taken over second place from Max Verstappen. Piastri particularly demonstrates mental fortitude, seemingly unshakeable by anything or anyone. With this, the Australian protégé of manager Mark Webber seriously stakes his claim for the world title. Soon, McLaren may have no choice but to choose Piastri as their lead driver. Hopefully, this will turn out well…
Underperformer: Lando Norris
Like Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris has the equipment to make a serious bid for the world title. The speed of the McLaren is unmatched. However, Norris makes far too many mistakes and frequently shows his mental weaknesses. In Bahrain, it was no different. While teammate Piastri shrugged off verbal jabs from Max Verstappen and Red Bull, Norris repeatedly showed himself to be ruffled. He also failed to impress on the track. On Saturday, he had a poor qualification (sixth!), and a day later in the race, plenty went wrong. At the start, he was out of position with his car, and just before the finish, he saw an attack on George Russell for P2 fail. The Brit still finished third, but due to his own mistakes, he lost valuable World Championship points.
Behind the Scenes
Take a peek behind the scenes at the Bahrain Grand Prix!
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GP Bahrain: Piastri Keeps His Cool in Bahrain, Verstappen Finishes Sixth
Other Observations from Bahrain…
Stefano Domenicali, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, and Luca di Montezemolo were spotted on the grid during the Bahrain GP.
Additional cooling in the form of mist was provided to offer everyone in the sweltering paddock a chance to cool down somewhat.
“In collaboration with Automobilist.com, an official partner of Formula 1, several luxury posters are being given away this season – true works of art! This time, the posters are of the Japanese Grand Prix (50×70 centimeters, valued at 59 euros) and of Yuki Tsunoda (50×70 centimeters, valued at 79 euros).”
Three Questions for Fernando Alonso
‘Max is the best, I’ve been saying this for years’
Fernando Alonso does not hide his admiration for Max Verstappen as a driver. The Spaniard spontaneously labeled Verstappen’s pole lap in Japan as ‘pure magic’. The two-time world champion from Aston Martin revisits this topic in the Bahrain paddock.
Fernando, what about Max Verstappen appeals to you as a fellow driver?
“Simply put, I think he’s the best. I’ve been saying this for a few years. Max has reached a level that all others, including myself, have not yet achieved. And I enjoy it when people win, even when they don’t have the best car. There have been periods of dominance in Formula 1 over the last twenty years. Great teams and drivers have been successful, but the victories were somewhat easy. Max, with the exception of the year 2023, faced serious competition. The championships that Max has won, except for 2023, required Max to fight harder than other drivers in previous years. And I find that admirable.”
Do modern simulators help rookies adapt quickly to Formula 1?
“I’m not entirely sure. I believe they are well-prepared when they make the leap, and the simulator is a useful tool for familiarizing themselves with circuits and gaining speed. However, there are still drivers today who, despite all the preparation in the world, will never be fast. It still holds true: you need to have talent and speed in your veins. A significant difference might be that a rookie about ten years ago didn’t have the opportunity to get into a competitive car, but now they do.”
Who is the best among the new generation?
“That’s hard to say. Gabriel Bortoleto has won the championship in Formula 3 and Formula 2, so he is demonstrably the best of his generation with the same cars. But now, in Formula 1, he is the last of the rookies. Does that make him the worst? That’s not how it works. It also has to do with being in the right car at the right time. In ten years, we’ll know where they stand.”
Formula 1 Podcast
We reflect on the Bahrain Grand Prix with reporter Frank Woestenburg. While Oscar Piastri dominated the race, his teammate Lando Norris had a far from flawless weekend. The same can be said for Red Bull. Issues with the RB21 and slow pit stops meant that Max Verstappen could only manage a sixth-place finish. Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko even described the situation as “very alarming”. What’s next?
Next Grand Prix: Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix: The Finale of the Season’s First Triple Header
The Saudi Arabian Grand Prix marks the conclusion of the first triple header of the season. The Jeddah Corniche Circuit, known as one of the fastest street circuits in the world, has been a fixture on the race calendar for five consecutive years. With an impressive average speed of around 250 kilometers per hour and a whopping 27 turns, including some blind ones, the street circuit promises plenty of action. Below is the full schedule, with times converted to UTC, for the race weekend.
Saudi Arabian GP Schedule 2025
Friday, April 18
- First free practice: 13:30 – 14:30 UTC
- Second free practice: 17:00 – 18:00 UTC
Saturday, April 19
- Third free practice: 13:30 – 14:30 UTC
- Qualification: 17:00 – 18:00 UTC
Sunday, April 20
- Race: 17:00 UTC
