Oscar Piastri has cruised to victory in Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix to close the gap in the Formula 1 Drivers' Championship.
The Australian had been left adrift of McLaren teammate Lando Norris and defending Max Verstappen ever since his ninth-placed finish in his home race on the opening weekend.
However, he now sits just three points behind Norris after dominating the fourth Grand Prix of the season, finishing 15.499 seconds clear of George Russell.
Nevertheless, the Mercedes driver will only keep hold of second if he avoids punishment for using DRS when not permitted, a consequence, per Russell, of clicking the radio button and the DRS activating.
Norris claimed the final podium spot, despite having to serve a five-second penalty for starting the race with his car outside of his box on the grid.
Ferrari opted for a different tyre strategy with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, yet it paid off for Hamilton who improved from ninth to fifth with Leclerc having to settle for fourth.
The star of the show ⭐️#F1 #BahrainGP pic.twitter.com/xrNJ2CYVPg
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 13, 2025
🏁 END OF RACE 🏁
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 13, 2025
TOP 10
Piastri
Russell
Norris
Leclerc
Hamilton
Verstappen
Gasly
Ocon
Tsunoda
Bearman#F1 #BahrainGP pic.twitter.com/j6lOriyGkj
Best of the rest?
Verstappen was in a constant battle with his Red Bull but still managed a respectable sixth, moving past Pierre Gasly on the final corner.
Esteban Ocon and Yuki Tsunoda were eighth and ninth respectively, but driver of the day was arguably young Briton Oliver Bearman who came from last place on the grid to claim 10th position.
Should Russell remain in second, Norris holds top spot from Piastri by three points with Verstappen a further five points behind the Championship leader.
Russell is fourth in the Mercedes, only 12 points adrift of Norris, with Leclerc 31 points behind Russell in fifth.
McLaren are already 58 points clear of Mercedes in the Constructors Championship, a result of the two teams taking 10 of the 12 available podiums.
Darren Plant
