Under the floodlights of Sakhir, Formula 1 geared up for the first night race of the 2025 season as the paddock touched down in Bahrain. Just days ago, the championship was carving through the cool, rain-soaked curves of Suzuka—where Max Verstappen reminded everyone of his brilliance with a commanding win. Now, the scene shifted over 8,000 kilometres to the sunbaked Persian Gulf for the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix, where the dry desert air and 30°C heat presented an entirely different challenge.
With its mix of long straights and heavy braking zones, Bahrain was a key venue during pre-season testing—particularly for McLaren in 2025, who would be eager to bounce back after Verstappen’s dominance in Japan. As the 2025 season picked up momentum, all eyes turned to Sakhir to see who could adapt quickest and light up the night in round four of the championship.
Race Guide
Season: 2025 F1 World Championship
Race weekend: 11 April 2025 – 13 April 2025
Race date: Saturday, 13 April, 2025
Race start time: 18:00 local time
Circuit: Bahrain International Circuit
Laps: 57
Circuit length: 5.412km
2024 winner: Max Verstappen
| Pole position | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Driver | TBC | TBC | |
| Time | TBC | ||
| Fastest lap | |||
| Driver | TBC | TBC | |
| Time | TBC | ||
| Podium | |||
| First | TBC | TBC | |
| Second | TBC | TBC | |
| Third | TBC | TBC | |
The Bahrain Grand Prix may have only been on the calendar since 2004, but as of 2025, it had already become one of Formula 1’s modern staples—blending high-stakes racing with a unique atmosphere under the lights. As the first-ever F1 race held in the Middle East, its 20 editions have delivered drama, iconic moments, and championship-defining drives. From Michael Schumacher’s maiden Bahrain win in a Ferrari to the chaotic, high-speed Sakhir Grand Prix on the outer loop in 2020, this venue has seen it all.
The Bahrain International Circuit isn’t just a test of car performance—it’s a challenge of strategy, tyre management, and precision driving. The 2025 5.412km layout, used since 2005, featured 15 corners—9 right-handers and 6 lefts—and presented one of the toughest tracks on the calendar for tyres. Managing thermal degradation- especially on the rear axle- is crucial here with abrasive asphalt, heat-soaked tarmac, and sand often drifting onto the racing line. Overtaking opportunities at Turns 1, 4, and 11 had frequently produced wheel-to-wheel racing under the desert lights.
Historically, this has been a happy hunting ground for several champions. Before the 2025 race, Lewis Hamilton led the pack with five victories, while Fernando Alonso (3), Max Verstappen (2), and Charles Leclerc (1) also tasted glory. On the team front, Ferrari reigned with seven wins and a record 17 podiums in Bahrain, although Mercedes edged them on poles with seven. Whether on the long 2010 layout or the ultra-short 2020 Sakhir GP version, Bahrain had become a fan-favourite stop on the calendar.
Weekend schedule
| Date | Session | Local Time |
|---|---|---|
| 11 April 2025 | Free Practice 1 (FP1) | 2:30 am – 3:30 pm local time |
| 11 April 2025 | Free Practice 2 (FP2) | 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm local time |
| 12 April 2025 | Free Practice 3 (FP3) | 3:30 am – 4:30 pm local time |
| 12 April 2025 | Qualifying | 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm local time |
| 13 April 2025 | Race | 6:00 pm local time |
Saturday qualifying short report. Post-session.
Sunday race short report. Post-session.
Championship background
Formula 1 returned to the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir for the fourth round of the 2025 F1 World Championship—familiar territory for teams and drivers alike. After three days of pre-season testing here earlier in the year, the weekend offered a unique chance to measure progress on a track where early expectations were formed.
At the top of the Drivers’ Championship, Lando Norris held a slender one-point lead over Max Verstappen, with McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri just 13 points further back. It was a strong start to the season for the Woking-based squad, who also lead the Constructors’ Championship. Their closest rivals, Mercedes, trailed by 36 points, but remained firmly in the hunt.
Ferrari, meanwhile, endured a stuttering start to 2025. Aside from Lewis Hamilton’s Sprint win in China, the Scuderia had struggled to make their mark. However, Bahrain presented a chance for redemption on a circuit that should better suit their SF-25, and with conditions more predictable than in recent rounds, they’d be hoping to reignite their campaign under the lights of Sakhir.
Race entries
The lineup of drivers and teams remained the same as the 2025 season’s entry list, featuring no reserve drivers for the Grand Prix.
Six reserve drivers: Mercedes’ Fred Vesti, Aston Martin’s Felipe Drugovich, Williams’ Luke Browning, Red Bulls’ Ayumu Iwasa, Ferraris’ Dino Beganovic and Haas’ Ryo Hirakawa would all drive in Free Practice 1 (FP1) at the Bahrain Grand Prix, replacing George Russell, Fernando Alonso, Carlos Sainz, Chareles Leclerc, Max Verstappen and Oliver Bearman.
Aside from the stand ins for FP1, all the drivers from the start of the season took to the track during FP1, FP2, FP3, Qualifying, and the Grand Prix.
Tyre choices
Tyre strategy would be front and centre again as Formula 1 headed into round four of the 2025 season. Just like in Suzuka, Pirelli brought the three hardest compounds in its range—the C1 (Hard), C2 (Medium), and C3 (Soft). But while the compounds remained the same, the conditions in Bahrain couldn’t have been more different. With higher ambient and track temperatures expected under the desert sun and floodlights, teams would have to take a very different approach to tyre management compared to Japan.
Fortunately, the teams came into Bahrain armed with plenty of relevant data. Back in late February, the Sakhir circuit hosted the only pre-season test allowed under the 2025 sporting regulations. Over 24 hours of track time, the field collectively completed nearly 3,900 laps—just over 21,000 kilometres—with the very compounds they’d be using this weekend.
However, conditions at the race weekend would differ significantly from those in testing. February’s sessions were impacted by unseasonably cool weather and strong winds, meaning air and track temperatures were far lower than what was forecasted in April. That prompted an update to the tyre starting pressures, which were adjusted to 23 psi at the front and 21 psi at the rear—up by 1 and 2 psi, respectively, from the 2024 race and a half-psi higher than during testing.
With Bahrain’s abrasive surface, traction-heavy layout, and heat-induced thermal degradation—especially on the rear tyres—teams would need to strike the perfect balance between pace and preservation if they wanted to stay in contention as the race unfolded.
FIND OUT MORE
Free Practice
In FP1 report under scorching skies in Sakhir as Lando Norris laid down an early marker in Free Practice 1 at the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix, going quickest for McLaren in an hour marked by extreme heat, car tweaks, and a flood of fresh faces behind the wheel. The championship leader topped the session with a 1:33.204 on soft tyres, two-tenths clear of Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and half a second ahead of Lewis Hamilton in a Ferrari equipped with a flurry of upgrades.
During FP2 McLaren delivered a clear statement of intent in Free Practice 2, locking out the top two positions in the most representative session of the weekend so far. Oscar Piastri topped the timesheets with a lap of 1:30.505, just over a tenth clear of teammate Lando Norris, underlining the team’s growing status as the front-runners in the early stages of the 2025 season. Mercedes’ George Russell slotted into third, but his best effort was still over half a second down on Piastri, highlighting just how far McLaren’s raw pace extended.
FP3 report, post-session.
Full Free Practice Reports
Free Practice 1 Classification
FP1 was held on 11 April 2025 from 2:30 am to 3:30 pm local time.
Free Practice 2 Classification
FP2 was held on 11 April 2025 from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm local time.
| Pos | No | Driver | Car | Time | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes | 1:30.505 | 29 | |
| 2 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes | 1:30.659 | +0.154s | 28 |
| 3 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:31.032 | +0.527s | 25 |
| 4 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:31.045 | +0.540s | 27 |
| 5 | 12 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:31.227 | +0.722s | 27 |
| 6 | 6 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:31.238 | +0.733s | 24 |
| 7 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:31.330 | +0.825s | 27 |
| 8 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:31.576 | +1.071s | 23 |
| 9 | 87 | Oliver Bearman | Haas Ferrari | 1:31.584 | +1.079s | 27 |
| 10 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Williams Mercedes | 1:31.623 | +1.118s | 28 |
| 11 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams Mercedes | 1:31.696 | +1.191s | 29 |
| 12 | 30 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:31.706 | +1.201s | 27 |
| 13 | 5 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:31.772 | +1.267s | 25 |
| 14 | 7 | Jack Doohan | Alpine Renault | 1:31.788 | +1.283s | 27 |
| 15 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:31.825 | +1.320s | 19 |
| 16 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Haas Ferrari | 1:31.870 | +1.365s | 27 |
| 17 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault | 1:31.947 | +1.442s | 27 |
| 18 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:32.024 | +1.519s | 25 |
| 19 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:32.382 | +1.877s | 27 |
| 20 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:32.496 | +1.991s | 24 |
Free Practice 3 Classification
FP3 was held on 12 April 2025 from 3:30 am to 4:30 pm local time.
Qualifying
Qualifying report and results, post-qualifying session.
Qualifying Classification
Qualifying was held on 12 April 2025 from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm local time.
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix Starting Grid
The Grand Prix starting grid, with or without penalties, after the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix Qualifying session.
What happened in the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix?
Full race report post-race.
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix Race Results
The 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix Race was held on 13 April 2025 at 6:00 pm local time.
2025 Bahrain Grand Prix Fastest Laps
Full standings are announced post-race.
2025 Post-Race F1 Championship Standings
Championship standings for Drivers’ and Teams after the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix.
2025 Post-Race F1 Drivers’ Championship Standings
Full standings are announced post-race.
2025 Post-Race F1 Constructors’ Championship Standings
Full standings are announced post-race.
Seen in:
