F1 returns to Sakhir this weekend for the Bahrain Grand Prix and round four of the 2025 F1 season.
Lando Norris saw his championship lead cut to one point after Max Verstappen’s brilliant victory in Japan last time out, with the McLaren driver forced to settle for second ahead of his teammate Oscar Piastri.
It was another difficult weekend for Ferrari in Suzuka, short of pace compared to the frontrunners, with Charles Leclerc finishing in fourth and Lewis Hamilton down in seventh, though the Brit hinted that a change is forthcoming to the SF-25 car.
Now, the grid returns to Bahrain - where pre-season testing took place in February - for the second race in the Asian triple-header. Verstappen won last year’s race in Bahrain, leading home a Red Bull one-two.
Follow live updates from the Bahrain Grand Prix with The Independent - the race starts at 4pm (BST).
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F1 BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX - LATEST UPDATES
- The race on Sunday starts at 4pm (BST)
- Oscar Piastri grabs pole position in Bahrain; Leclerc 2nd; Russell 3rd
- Russell and Antonelli given one-place grid drop
- Lewis Hamilton apologises to Ferrari F1 team after poor qualifying in Bahrain
- FLASHBACK: The year a scorching Bahrain Grand Prix smashed F1 temperature record
When is the Bahrain Grand Prix?
Saturday 12 April 2025 18:54
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Kieran Jackson
Time BST
Sunday 13 April
- Race: 4pm
Lando Norris after qualifying only P6:
14:33
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Kieran Jackson
“I didn’t even go a tenth quicker, not quick enough.
Asked what the issue was, Norris reacts by circling his head: “Here.”
What went wrong? “No idea, just not quick enough.
On the race: “It’s just another day, look into things, see why I was struggling so much.
How can he turn it around? “Nothing, go to sleep.”
What is the starting grid?
14:30
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Kieran Jackson
1. Oscar Piastri
2. Charles Leclerc
3. George Russell*
4. Pierre Gasly
5. Kimi Antonelli*
6. Lando Norris
7. Max Verstappen
8. Carlos Sainz
9. Lewis Hamilton
10. Yuki Tsunoda
11. Jack Doohan
12. Isack Hadjar
13. Fernando Alonso
14. Esteban Ocon
15. Alex Albon
16. Nico Hulkenberg
17. Liam Lawson
18. Gabriel Bortoleto
19. Lance Stroll
20. Ollie Bearman
*Both Mercedes drivers received a one-place grid drop for being released too early from their garages in qualifying
VIDEO: Esteban Ocon's crashin qualifying
14:13
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Kieran Jackson
Esteban Ocon confirms he is okay on the radio after a big crash pic.twitter.com/OMwKicvOWC
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) April 12, 2025
F1 constructor standings after the first three races:
13:57
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Kieran Jackson
1. McLaren - 111 points
2. Mercedes - 75 points
3. Red Bull - 61 points
4. Ferrari - 35 points
5. Williams - 19 points
6. Haas - 15 points
7. Aston Martin - 10 points
8. Racing Bulls - 7 points
9. Sauber - 6 points
10. Alpine - 0 points
Michael Schumacher signs F1 race helmet with aid of his wife Corinna
13:44
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Kieran Jackson
Michael Schumacher has signed a race helmet with the help of his wife Corinna – more than 11 years since his life-changing skiing accident.
Schumacher, 56, suffered severe injuries in a skiing accident in Meribel, France, in December 2013, and has not been seen publicly since.
Yet Schumacher has, alongside every living F1 world champion, signed a helmet with his initials “MS”, which is being sold to raise funds for Sir Jackie Stewart’s Race Against Dementia charity.
“It is wonderful that Michael could sign the helmet in this worthy cause – a disease for which there is no cure,” Stewart said.
Full story below:
Lewis Hamilton despondent after qualifying P9:
13:29
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Kieran Jackson
On radio: “Sorry guys, sorry man. Really sorry.”
On his radio message, he said: “It was about my poor performance.
“No reasons, not doing the job. It happens every Saturday, yes.”
Max Verstappen, after qualifying P7:
13:05
How much of a concern is it to be so far down the order?
“Urm, I don’t know. Try to do my best, it’s been a difficult weekend for us.
“Tomorrow I’ll try and get as many points as I can. I have no idea where we will be in terms of race-pace, we’re in the middle of the pack so hopefully a bit of excitement. “
What is the starting grid?
12:44
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Kieran Jackson
1. Oscar Piastri
2. Charles Leclerc
3. George Russell*
4. Pierre Gasly
5. Kimi Antonelli*
6. Lando Norris
7. Max Verstappen
8. Carlos Sainz
9. Lewis Hamilton
10. Yuki Tsunoda
11. Jack Doohan
12. Isack Hadjar
13. Fernando Alonso
14. Esteban Ocon
15. Alex Albon
16. Nico Hulkenberg
17. Liam Lawson
18. Gabriel Bortoleto
19. Lance Stroll
20. Ollie Bearman
*Both Mercedes drivers received a one-place grid drop for being released too early from their garages in qualifying
F1 driver standings
12:16
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Kieran Jackson
2. Max Verstappen – 61 points
3. Oscar Piastri – 49 points
4. George Russell –45 points
5. Kimi Antonelli – 30 points
6. Charles Leclerc – 20 points
7. Alex Albon – 18 points
9. Esteban Ocon – 10 points
10. Lance Stroll – 10 points
11. Nico Hulkenberg – 6 points
13. Isack Hadjar – 4 points
12. Ollie Bearman – 5 points
15. Carlos Sainz – 1 point
16. Pierre Gasly – 0 points
17. Liam Lawson – 0 points
18. Jack Doohan – 0 points
19. Gabriel Bortoleto – 0 points
20. Fernando Alonso – 0 points
FLASHBACK: The year a scorching Bahrain Grand Prix smashed F1 temperature record
11:03
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Kieran Jackson
“I was so excited about the race that I didn’t even sweat,” Pedro De la Rosa tells The Independent. “I didn’t drink at all – back then if you didn’t put in a drinks bottle, you saved weight on the car. So, we didn’t even fit it.”
Performance over health? He won’t be the last in F1. Yet the second iteration of the Bahrain Grand Prix, 20 years ago, was the most extreme example in the sport’s 75-year history of drivers prioritising pace over physical condition. At 42.6C, beating 40C temperatures in Dallas and Detroit in the mid-1980s, it was the hottest F1 race ever.
Full feature below:
McLaren boss admits there is ‘a lot of work to do’ to beat Max Verstappen in F1 title race
10:03
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Kieran Jackson
“When you have these indications from the track then maybe it reinforces the message that we do have to keep working well together,” said team principal Andrea Stella after the Japan GP.
“Because before it becomes an internal business only, I think there is quite a lot of work to do to clear some of the competitors.
“We don’t need these kinds of reminders because we talk about this every Thursday and Sunday of every race weekend. We are here first of all to beat the other teams and put McLaren in a very strong position.
“When McLaren is in a strong position that is the best position for the two drivers to pursue their aspirations. That is very clear to the team and very clear to the drivers.”
Sebastian Vettel reveals ‘only regret’ from glory-laden F1 career
09:03
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Kieran Jackson
Sebastian Vettel admits that not speaking out on social, equality and climate issues earlier in his racing career is his “only regret” from his time in Formula One.
“When I started as a rookie, I was solely focused on racing and it was the only thing that was occupying my day,” Vettel told the BBC last month.
“But towards the last couple of years, I think it’s probably one of the things, maybe the only thing that I would say I regret, is not to speak out earlier in my career and seeing the potential power in terms of reach and audience that you might have as a professional athlete to inspire people.”
Full story below:
FLASHBACK: The year a scorching Bahrain Grand Prix smashed F1 temperature record
08:03
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Kieran Jackson
“I was so excited about the race that I didn’t even sweat,” Pedro De la Rosa tells The Independent. “I didn’t drink at all – back then if you didn’t put in a drinks bottle, you saved weight on the car. So, we didn’t even fit it.”
Performance over health? He won’t be the last in F1. Yet the second iteration of the Bahrain Grand Prix, 20 years ago, was the most extreme example in the sport’s 75-year history of drivers prioritising pace over physical condition. At 42.6C, beating 40C temperatures in Dallas and Detroit in the mid-1980s, it was the hottest F1 race ever.
Full feature below:
Max Verstappen compared to Michael Schumacher by former F1 driver after Japan GP comment
07:01
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Kieran Jackson
F1 race winner Johnny Herbert has compared Max Verstappen to Michael Schumacher after his comment prior to his terrific win at the Japanese Grand Prix last Sunday.
“It was interesting that before the race, Max Verstappen came out with a very Michael Schumacher-esque comment which was, ‘I don't have a chance this weekend!’” Herbert said.
Full quotes below:
QUALIFYING REPORT: Oscar Piastri outshines McLaren teammate Lando Norris to take pole in Bahrain
04:03
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Kieran Jackson
Oscar Piastri claimed pole position for the Bahrain Grand Prix as McLaren team-mate Lando Norris qualified only sixth.
McLaren’s rivals believed that this would be the weekend which would show the advantage of the papaya cars and they duly topped all practice sessions to suggest a two-way battle for pole.
Piastri shone brightest under the lights at the Sakhir circuit to clinch pole but as rival cars ramped up the times at the end of the session, Norris could not find the answer.
Full report below:
Martin Brundle on McLaren's dominance:
03:03
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Kieran Jackson
“There’s no doubt the McLaren is the fastest car, probably a tenth of a second a lap compared to the rest,” Brundle told Sky Sports F1.
“It’s a different race here, you can build a tyre advantage. Should they have tried to destabilise Red Bull? I think so yes. It’s very easy to sit on the sofa and say ‘do that, do this’, you can look quite foolish.”
Ex-Red Bull mechanic Richard Hopkins believes Christian Horner dropped Liam Lawson too quickly:
02:02
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Kieran Jackson
Speaking to Prime Casino, who offer the latest casino games, Hopkins said: “Yes, it’s early. Too early? Maybe. Poor lad, to an extent.
“But he's operating at the very top. If he wasn’t good enough for that level, then the mistake was putting him there in the first place.
“It’s a shame, but at least he wasn’t sidelined completely and he’s still got another drive.”
Lewis Hamilton ‘excited’ as Ferrari upgrade looks to kick-start F1 season in Bahrain
01:02
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“We’ve got an upgrade this weekend, I’m excited,” he said on media day in Bahrain.
“We should hopefully have a bit more downforce. I’m not feeling a huge amount of issues, we lack overall performance at the moment pace-wise.
“Hopefully we take a step this weekend. From my side, it’s rear-end – and that’s it.”
Lando Norris ready to be ‘more demanding’ of McLaren in title pursuit
Saturday 12 April 2025 23:59
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Kieran Jackson
“Of course we were not happy after last weekend – we were happy because we had second and third, a great result as a team still,” Norris said.
“But could it have been better and could we have potentially taken more risks and been a bit more attacking as a team? Yes. So it’s a review into these weekends to maybe be a bit more attacking at times.
“I am here to win races and not settle for second, so definitely from my side, I would love to kind of kind of go back and redo things with a slightly more aggressive approach.
“I do know deep down that it’s a long season and sometimes points on the board is better than taking unnecessary risks.”
Red Bull's Yuki Tsunoda after qualifying P10:
Saturday 12 April 2025 23:02
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Kieran Jackson
“I take it. As a driver, you want more. Considering what I had in practice and second race, I take it to get through to Q3.
“It’s difficult, not easy to be in the window which this car operates which is quite narrow. It’s natural that it’s up and down.”
George Russell believes the FIA continues to head in unstable direction
Saturday 12 April 2025 22:12
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Kieran Jackson
George Russell says that the drivers’ actions are having little impact with the FIA and believes that the governing body continues to head in an unstable direction.
Russell, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, was reacting after Robert Reid resigned from his role as deputy president for sport at the FIA and accused the governing body of a “breakdown in governance standards”.
“Unfortunately, every time we hear some news from that side of the sport it is not really a big surprise,” Russell said.
“Clearly a real shame to see somebody who’s very well respected within the sport and has been there for so long… as we keep saying it’s like ‘what’s next?’. Ultimately it is getting to a point now where these things are happening so often.
“Things seem to be continuously going in an unstable direction. I’ve got to be honest, we are getting to a point now where our actions are having little impact with those guys.”
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff:
Saturday 12 April 2025 19:34
“So far, so good.
“That’s much better than we expected.”
Oscar Piastri after qualifying on pole:
Saturday 12 April 2025 18:59
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Kieran Jackson
“I’ve felt confident all weekend, really comfortable with the car. The others caught up more than what I wanted, but delivered the laps when it mattered.
“I’ve got to get into turn 1 in first, let’s see what happens. No better place to start than on pole, excited for the race tomorrow.”
Mercedes investigations!
Saturday 12 April 2025 18:49
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Kieran Jackson
A reminder that both Russell and Antonelli are under investigation for leaving their garages too early after Ocon’s crash, with the FIA not releasing a start time.
I would say it’s more likely to be a fine than a grid penalty... but we shall see!
George Russell after qualifying P2:
Saturday 12 April 2025 18:45
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Kieran Jackson
“If anything said we’d be within half-a-second of the McLarens, we’d take it. Second on the grid is a bonus.
“As the session unfolded, we got quicker. Being realistic, it will be a challenge to fight with Oscar.”
TOP-10 IN QUALIFYING
Saturday 12 April 2025 18:22
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Kieran Jackson
1. Oscar Piastri
2. George Russell
3. Charles Leclerc
4. Kimi Antonelli
5. Pierre Gasly
6. Lando Norris
7. Max Verstappen
8. Carlos Sainz
9. Lewis Hamilton
10. Yuki Tsunoda
Charles Leclerc, after qualifying P3:
Saturday 12 April 2025 18:31
“Honestly I didn’t expect P3. As soon as we put the new tyres on, it was quite a bit better - I’m happy. We explored extreme setups in the last few weekends and now I’ve found my way a little bit.
“The team has pushed like crazy to get the upgrades, it’s a small gain, not a big one.”
Oscar Piastri:
Saturday 12 April 2025 18:15
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Kieran Jackson
“Yeah baby, very nice work.”
Oscar Piastri on pole position!
Saturday 12 April 2025 18:12
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Kieran Jackson
Piastri grabs pole from Russell at the end! By 0.168 seconds!
Norris only P6 - a terrible final lap!
3-10: Leclerc, Antonelli, Gasly, Norris, Verstappen, Sainz, Hamilton, Tsunoda
That’s a bit of a shock - impressive from Mercedes!
Lewis Hamilton lap time deleted!
Saturday 12 April 2025 18:07
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Kieran Jackson
Hamilton drops to P10 with his lap time deleted!
Antonelli also has his lap deleted!
And, rather oddly, Nico Hulkenberg (not in Q3) has a lap deleted from Q1! That pushes him down to 16th from 13th for tomorrow’s grid!
Anyway, 4:00 to go in Q3... can anyone beat Piastri’s time?!
Oscar Piastri on provisional pole!
Saturday 12 April 2025 18:06
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Kieran Jackson
Piastri on top with a 1:30:233, 0.131 seconds ahead of George Russell - a surprise name in second!
Lando Norris is third, 0.163 secs off his teammate, with Charles Leclerc in fourth and Lewis Hamilton in fifth - over a second behind Piastri though!
6-10: Tsunoda, Gasly, Sainz, Verstappen, Antonelli