A tense Formula 1 title fight is brewing ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix, as only one point separates the top two competitors in the drivers’ standings. McLaren’s Lando Norris is the top seed with three consecutive top two finishes, including winning the Australian Grand Prix. However, a familiar face is lurking behind the Englishman.
Max Verstappen is reminding us why he’s the four-time defending champion. Amid the sweeping changes within their ranks at Red Bull, the Dutchman consistently puts his team on his back every race.
On the other hand, Ferrari have been underwhelming in their first few races with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, prompting them to rethink their strategy and make the necessary changes to their cars.
The Bahrain Grand Prix could become an early turning point this 2025 season, so this race is not the one to miss. Continue reading below to learn more about the latest Bahrain Grand Prix 2025 updates.
Verstappen has closed the gap
After finishing second and fourth in Albert Park and Shanghai, Max Verstappen claimed his first win of the season in Suzuka to move within a single point of championship leader Lando Norris after three rounds. The McLaren looked like the fastest car last week but not quick enough to dominate the weekend, and that left the door for Verstappen to pull off something special in the qualifying.
Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris set the pace during Q1 and Q2, and the latter was poised to secure pole as the final laps went on board. However, Verstappen came out of nowhere and logged the fastest lap time at 1:26.983s, beating Norris by only 0.012s while Piastri had to settle for third.
Verstappen had a close call with Norris during the race when his slow pit stop almost cost him his leading position. But, other than that, the Dutchman finished ahead for the remainder of the 53-lap encounter, clinching the win by 1.4s from his Papaya counterpart.
The four-time world champion will take the backseat in FP1, as Ayumu Iwasa is assigned to participate in the practice session. That should give Verstappen ample time to recharge his batteries. Meanwhile, Red Bull teammate Yuki Tsunoda has his work cut out after finishing outside the points territory in his home race (P12).
Ferrari hinting upgrades in Bahrain
Ferrari’s first campaign with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton is not going as planned. The Prancing Horse is fourth in the constructors’ standings. Leclerc is sixth in the drivers’ standings with 20 points, while Hamilton is eighth with 15 points. Neither even won a podium berth after the first three rounds. Despite this, there’s no panic within the Scuderia camp.
Leclerc and Hamilton were disqualified from China because their SF-25s breached technical regulations. Leclerc’s car was underweight, while Hamilton’s had too much skid wear because of its low ride height.
Team principal Fred Vasseur said they’ll address their recent problems by introducing new upgrades this week, with Hamilton leading the evaluation. The SF-25s new floor is expected to be followed by a more significant upgrade package in Miami next month.
History
For the last three years, the driver who took pole position has always won the actual race on Sunday. Charles Leclerc did it in 2022, making him the first Monegasque driver to lead the drivers’ championship. Max Verstappen followed suit in 2023 and 2024.
Lewis Hamilton has the most wins on this track with five, with his last one in 2021, while Sebastian Vettel has four and Fernando Alonso has three. After consecutive wins in the past two years, Max Verstappen is joint fourth with Felipe Massa at two victories.
Last year’s Bahrain Grand Prix was the first season-opening race in Formula 1 history without any DNFs. Verstappen dominated the weekend by recording his fifth career grand chelem.
What are the odds?
The SBOTOP Bahrain Grand Prix 2025 odds expect Lando Norris to bounce back in Bahrain this Sunday. The 25-year-old driver is valued at 1.22 to win, with teammate Oscar Piastri behind him at 1.25. Max Verstappen is poised to take the third podium spot at 1.65, with George Russell (2.30), Charles Leclerc (3.00), and Lewis Hamilton (4.00) being the closest challengers. On the other hand, Isack Hadjar, who scored his first Formula 1 point in Suzuka, could get into the points territory for the second straight race since he is the ninth-ranked driver in the betting odds at 41.00.
As far as the constructors’ championship is concerned, McLaren are expected to reign supreme in Bahrain. The Papayas are 1.45 favourites, with Red Bull (4.50) and Mercedes (9.00) being their closest challengers.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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