As F1 prepares for the second race of a triple header, we preview what to look out for at the Bahrain GP.
The Bahrain International Circuit is a track the teams know exceptionally well. It may only be three days, but extensive testing here means we should get our first true representative idea of the competitive order.
As the 2025 championship fight begins to take shape, here’s Fastest Formula News’ preview of the main talking points of the F1 Bahrain GP.
Will the cars be capable of overtaking?
While last weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix did not quite resemble watching paint dry in an old house, the analogy hit a little too close to home.
Watching F1 cars fail to get close enough to pass one another was a bit like seeing a footballer unable to tackle an opponent. It was equally contradictory and completely pointless. But this issue has quietly gone under the radar since the season started, and is not going away.
This concerning aspect of F1 in 2025 is caused by the sheer size of the current cars, combined with the downward aero-wash effect on the side pods and flexible wings. The result of these innovations has exacerbated the dirty air problem that is plaguing F1.
The fast-flowing nature of Suzuka can hinder overtaking at the best of times. The more varied layout of Bahrain will indicate how successful F1’s quest for more wheel racing will be this year.
The F1 Bahrain GP could yet again become a race dictated by qualifying. For the sake of viewing figures, let’s hope we see some overtaking.
McLaren to dominate the F1 Bahrain GP – with fireworks?
The common consensus in the F1 paddock is that the best from McLaren is yet to come. A combination of cool temperatures in the first three races and poor qualifying in Suzuka have held back Woking marque’s true pace.
However, this is very likely to change in Bahrain. Although a night race the air and track temperatures are expected to be high. This will play into the hands of McLaren.
The MCL39 has two clear advantages over its rivals: it warms up its tyres faster while keeping good temperature, and has strong overall balance. These factors will pay dividends in the Middle Eastern heat.
Should McLaren dominate, the battle between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will be fascinating. Fans may not have to wait until after the race to see fireworks.
Piastri put on a brave face after Suzuka. His rejected calls for a driver swap during the race will have infuriated him. Nothing has come out of him or McLaren about the conversations that took place after the race. He will want to make a statement in Bahrain.
Norris, meanwhile has a point of his own to prove. His lead in the driver’s championship is down to a solitary point. Max Verstappen’s win in Japan has highlighted the dangers of a weekend off the top step of the podium in 2025.
It will be a case of an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object if McLaren dominate this weekend. Who wins that fight is anyone’s guess.
The rise of Mercedes and Andrea Kimi Antonelli to continue?
The post Lewis Hamilton era at Mercedes is an example of future planning done right. George Russell has effortlessly stepped into the role of team leader, and has nailed his start to the season. Two third places and a fifth shows he is ready to jump on any mistakes by those in front of him.
His races have been quiet but nonetheless effective. Although he could not match the race pace of the Ferraris in Shanghai, he inherited third place after Charles Leclerc’s disqualification.
In Suzuka, Ferrari’s pace once again scuppered attempts to move forward, but he extracted the maximum from the car. In Bahrain, he may get close to the Ferraris, although this will be a tall order.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli continues to go from strength to strength. His Suzuka performance was nothing short of exceptional. His relationship with his race engineer is developing in a way that compliments his ability to drive forward.
This is no fluke, however. Mercedes gave the young Italian miles of testing last year, having decided he was the future. The results so far are far greater than anyone could have hoped for. Bahrain will be another test for his growing confidence.
Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson: The next chapter
Both of the drivers in the Jerry Springer-style Red Bull saga had below-par races in Suzuka. Tsunoda failed to score a point, while Lawson once again finished towards the back.
But there is confidence the building blocks of a successful career at Red Bull are there for the Japanese driver. His pace relative to Verstappen in the run-up to qualifying in Suzuka was competitive. However, his unforced error in Q2 sealed his race in the midfield, a challenge he could not overcome.
Bahrain will be a representative test for Tsunoda, given pre-season testing with Racing Bulls only a few short months ago. All eyes will again be on the second Red Bull seat this weekend.
However, that is not to say all focus will move away from Liam Lawson. His nightmare start to full-time F1 in 2025 did not improve after his demotion in Japan. Instead, he seems to fallen further down the performance well.
Racing Bulls can catch him before he falls terminally far, with Bahrain a good circuit to begin the recovery, given his testing experience at the track. A bad weekend will only increase talk of the New Zealander losing his second seat in a year.
Jack Doohan: The final curtain?
The possibility exists that Jack Doohan may not even race in Bahrain. But as the weekend gets closer, this becomes more unlikely.
What is certain however, is that this could be his final race for Alpine. Is it harsh? Yes, unquestionably. But does it make sense? Sadly yes absolutely.
Doohan has not shown the level of performance necessary to keep his seat. His embarrassing faux pas of not manually closing his DRS during Suzuka highlights this.
Unfortunately, the position he is in cannot aid his plight. He has effectively been instructed to walk a tightrope across a ravine blindfolded, with one hand behind his back. In theory he can do this, but the chances of doing it correctly are almost neglible.
Drivers have to perform in F1, constantly under pressure. But few have had to deal with the levels of pressure forced on Doohan. If he does race in Bahrain, it will likely be his last in F1.
