The 2025 bahrain Grand Prix has come and gone, leaving us with plenty of stories to reflect on. The Sakhir desert circuit is notorious for its heat, its challenging layout, and the fact that it tends to separate the best from the rest. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at the five winners and five losers from this weekend’s action-packed race.
Winners:
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing)
It’s no surprise that Max Verstappen claimed another victory, and the bahrain Grand Prix was no exception. The Dutch driver showcased his dominance, expertly managing tire wear and maintaining the kind of pace that has made him the measuring stick for the entire grid. Despite some early challenges, Verstappen pulled away with ease, cementing his status as the man to beat this season. His strategic brilliance and faultless driving made him the standout performer of the weekend.
2. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
Alonso was on a different level this weekend. The two-time World champion had an exceptional race, securing a podium finish and proving that he still has the fire to challenge the best. Aston Martin’s car has clearly improved, and Alonso’s driving was a key factor in their success. He seemed at home in the desert heat, picking off rivals one by one and showing why he is still one of the sharpest minds in Formula 1.
3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
Ferrari’s performance at bahrain was one of their best in recent times, and Charles Leclerc delivered a standout performance. Despite a ferrari car that still seems to lack some consistency, Leclerc managed to secure a solid finish, showing resilience and tactical intelligence in navigating through the field. His ability to adapt to the conditions was impressive, and his teamwork with Ferrari's strategy calls showed a level of synergy that’s been missing in recent seasons.
4. Lando Norris (McLaren)
Lando Norris showcased his talent with a solid performance in bahrain, pushing the McLaren car to its limits. Despite the team still working through some development hurdles, Norris drove a perfect race, finishing in the points and helping McLaren stay relevant in the midfield battle. His ability to manage tire degradation in the scorching desert heat made him one of the unsung heroes of the weekend.
5. George Russell (Mercedes)
George Russell continued to impress with his calm and methodical approach. Although Mercedes are still working their way to the front of the grid, Russell’s racecraft and consistency in bahrain stood out. The 2025 Mercedes package may not yet be the fastest on the grid, but Russell made sure to extract the most from it, securing a solid finish and ensuring that Mercedes remain competitive in the constructor standings.
Losers:
1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
Hamilton’s bahrain weekend was one to forget. Struggling with pace, tire wear, and an overall lack of confidence in his car’s performance, the seven-time world champion couldn’t make much of an impact. While his teammate Russell was able to stay in the points, Hamilton found himself trailing in the pack and unable to challenge for the top positions. It was a disappointing showing from a driver who usually thrives in the heat of battle.
2. Sergio Perez (Red Bull Racing)
Sergio Perez had a weekend he’d rather forget. Although Verstappen cruised to victory, Perez struggled to match his teammate’s pace, especially in the crucial middle portion of the race. The Mexican driver couldn’t extract the full potential from the car, and after a series of mistakes and a lackluster performance, Perez ended up finishing far lower than expected. It was a race where he couldn’t live up to his usual consistency.
3. Esteban Ocon (Alpine)
Esteban Ocon’s race in bahrain was marred by mistakes, lack of pace, and poor strategy calls. Alpine’s car still struggles to compete with the likes of ferrari, Aston Martin, and McLaren, and Ocon’s frustrations were evident as he couldn’t find any rhythm in the heat. He was ultimately one of the first drivers to be eliminated from contention, finishing in the lower midfield, which was a tough pill to swallow for both him and the team.
4. Daniel Ricciardo (AlphaTauri)
Ricciardo’s return to the F1 grid with AlphaTauri has yet to produce the results he hoped for. The Australian driver struggled to match his teammates and found himself caught in the midfield battle throughout the race. The lack of pace in the AlphaTauri car, combined with a few rookie errors, saw Ricciardo finish well outside the points. He had hoped for more, but bahrain showed that AlphaTauri still has a long way to go before challenging the top teams.
5. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
Despite Alonso’s impressive performance, Lance Stroll had a very tough race in Bahrain. While Aston Martin's car has certainly improved, Stroll couldn’t capitalize on the advancements made by the team. He struggled with tire wear, pace, and strategy, and ultimately found himself at the tail end of the top 10. It’s clear that Stroll has the potential, but he couldn’t quite put it together this weekend, and it showed in the final results.
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