2025 Bahrain Grand Prix Qualifying Review

For the first time in 2025, Qualifying took place under the lights to set the Grid for today’s Bahrain Grand Prix!

Q1

In Qualifying 1, Alex Albon, Liam Lawson, Gabriel Bortoleto, Lance Stroll, and Oliver Bearman were the five slowest drivers! Alex Albon will be disappointed to have been knocked out in Q1, but he’ll be even angrier at the fact that he wouldn’t have been out in the first place had the FIA been competent and not deleted lap times for other drivers 45 minutes later! Anyway, Liam Lawson’s struggles continued as he could only manage P17 following a DRS failure, just ahead of the Kick Sauber of Gabriel Bortoleto, whilst Lance Stroll also suffered a disappointing Qualifying! However, the worst performance of the day came from Oliver Bearman as he ended up slowest overall! Lando Norris topped Q1 for McLaren, just over a tenth clear of Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari!

Q2

In Qualifying 2, Jack Doohan, Isack Hadjar, Fernando Alonso, Esteban Ocon, and Nico Hulkenberg all failed to make it into the Top 10 shootout! Jack Doohan will actually be disappointed with P11 given the pace he showed early in the session whilst Isack Hadjar couldn’t make it into Q3 for the third consecutive weekend! Fernando Alonso said he maximised the result for Aston Martin in P13 (which says a lot) whilst Esteban Ocon failed to get a lap on the board in Q2 after smashing his car off at Turn 3! Nico Hulkenberg also competed in Q2, but he was later demoted down to P16 after his Q1 lap was eventually deleted for track limits (need I say more)! It was a McLaren 1-2 in Q2, with Oscar Piastri leading this time, ahead of Lando!

Q3

In Qualifying 3, a 1:29.841 was enough for Oscar Piastri to take the second Pole Position of his career! Oscar looked on it throughout today, and he has a great opportunity to take another victory tomorrow! George Russell also pulled out a terrific lap to get his Mercedes onto the Front Row (before receiving a 1-place penalty) whilst Row 2 should also be filled with smiles as Charles Leclerc heads Andrea Kimi Antonelli (again, before penalties were applied)! Pierre Gasly stared to take a brilliant P5 for Alpine, ahead of a very disappointed Lando Norris, whilst Max Verstappen could only manage 7th for Red Bull! Carlos Sainz pulled out his best performance for Williams to qualify in P8, ahead of Lewis Hamilton who continues to struggle for Ferrari, and it was Yuki Tsunoda who rounded out the Top 10 after a mixed showing!

Starting Grid for the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix and My Qualifying Grades

1. Oscar Piastri: 10

2. Charles Leclerc: 9

3. George Russell: 10

4. Pierre Gasly: 10

5. Andrea Kimi Antonelli: 8

6. Lando Norris: 4

7. Max Verstappen: 5

8. Carlos Sainz: 9

9. Lewis Hamilton: 4

10. Yuki Tsunoda: 4

11. Jack Doohan: 6

12. Isack Hadjar: 6

13. Fernando Alonso: 6

14. Esteban Ocon: 2

15. Alex Albon: 3

16. Nico Hulkenberg: 3

17. Liam Lawson: 3

18. Gabriel Bortoleto: 2

19. Lance Stroll: 1

20. Oliver Bearman: 1

    

My Predictions for the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix

1. Oscar Piastri

2. Lando Norris

3. George Russell

4. Charles Leclerc

5. Andrea Kimi Antonelli