MOTORSPORT – Formula One superstars Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris of reigning constructors’ world champions McLaren have acknowledged that they are not only competing with their rivals on the grid – they are also engaged in “a tight battle” with each other.
Following Piastri’s historic victory in the F1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2025 on Sunday night at Bahrain International Circuit, the pair are now the top two on the F1 drivers’ championship standings. Their double podium in Sakhir – where Norris finished third – also helped them extend McLaren’s lead on the F1 teams’ points rankings.
Norris remained the drivers’ championship leader with 77 points, while Piastri leapfrogged four-time defending world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing to second place, where he is on 74 points.
McLaren are now on 151 points amongst F1’s squads – 58 ahead of their closest challengers Mercedes.
Piastri and Norris admitted that they expect it to remain highly competitive between themselves as the season progresses.
“I thought it started from Melbourne, to be honest,” said Piastri of their battle. “But yeah, it’s still so early. I think at the moment we’ve got a great car underneath us – I feel like for the most part we’ve been able to do a good job with it.
“I think we’re in the positions we should be in. I think it’s going to be a tight battle. I think there are going to be other contenders. What we’ve seen at the moment is we’ve not had a consistent challenger week in, week out. It’s kind of been somebody different, which from the championship point of view makes life difficult for others.
“But yeah, I think it’s going to be a tight year, definitely. And I think as long as we have the best car, it’s going to be tight between Lando and I.”
Norris concurred. “I think we knew coming into this season – us as a team knew it before the season – that we were going to have some close moments between us and some good fights,” said Norris. “And I’m sure we’re going to have more later this year, which I think we’re both excited for.
“So we have to keep working hard as a team to keep ourselves ahead of the rest. Because I’m sure we both prefer if it’s just me and him – between us and no one else. As a team, we’d prefer that.
“It’d probably make our lives easier as a whole. So we’re not forgetting that the competition is close. Yes, we’ve got the best car on the grid and things like this, but one mistake – and I paid the price yesterday. One-tenth and I would’ve been second on the grid today, so it’s frustrating.
“But it’s close and it’s competitive, and I think that’s a great thing for the sport. But we have to keep working hard as a team.”
Piastri’s win in Bahrain was his second of the season. It was also the fourth of his F1 career and first-ever for Bahrain-owned McLaren in its ‘home’ grand prix. Mercedes driver George Russell joined the McLaren pair in the top three as runner-up.
The battles throughout the field were intense throughout the 57-lap night race, and both Russell and Piastri expressed that they may be a part of the most talented field ever in the top flight.
“I think this is probably the most complete grid we’ve ever seen in Formula One,” said Russell. “Everybody who’s here is here on merit. The sport is in the strongest place ever, so you don’t need that external resource that some drivers brought in the past.”
Added Piastri: “Compared to previous generations, now talent is definitely the biggest thing that you need. In the past, that’s not always been the case.
“I think there are still other factors involved. As George said, the way to F1 is still very…you know, you need to be in the right place at the right time going through the ranks.
“You need ultimately someone to replace on the grid. The grid is incredibly young now, so it’s as difficult as ever to kind of work your way through. But I think, yes, talent can get you to Formula One with almost nothing else now. And I think the support of the F1 teams is more than it’s ever been.
“I think the cost cap as well has been a good thing from this side of things because pretty much all the teams on the grid are able to find all the money they need for development, and they don’t rely on drivers to bring it anymore. So yeah, I think the sport’s in a great place.”
The F1 field now heads to Jeddah Corniche Circuit for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix this Friday to Sunday. It will be the fifth round of the 2025 FIA F1 World Championship and the final leg of F1’s ongoing triple-header, which has featured Japan and Bahrain over successive weekends, and now Saudi coming up.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
Top stories for today:
Tehran must give up dream of nuclear arms says Trump
New projects are lined up in infrastructure revamp
Tearful expat honours dad’s passion for Grand Prix at BIC
&uuid=(email))