George Russell (Mercedes) intercouled in second place between the two orange cars. Charles Leclerc hoped for a long time to offer Ferrari his first podium of the season, but was exceeded by Norris five laps from the end. “It was an incredible weekend, enjoyed Piastri after the arrival, with the qualification of yesterday, we finished the work today and I will never thank my team enough to offer me this incredible car”.
After the monotonous parade of the Japan GP in Suzuka last Sunday, the test disputed at night on the Sakhir circuit, traced between the dunes of the Bahrain desert, offered a more exciting show. The departure was decisive: Oscar Piastri, author the day before pole position, managed to turn in mind at the first turn. He then checked the end -to -end race, giving up for a few moments at first place at the time of tire changes.
George Russell, who left the second line, has grilled the politeness to Charles Leclerc and immediately placed himself in the wake of the leader. He too held his position until the end of the 57 laps.
“I had a hard time keeping Lando behind me, if there had been one more turn I think he would have exceeded me,” said British driver from Mercedes. “For us it’s the third podium in four races, it’s great and it gives us confidence for the future”.
Behind, Lando Norris, only sixth in qualification, took a canon start and won three places even before the second turn. The departure loser was Charles Leclerc, who left on the front line and demoted in fourth position after a few hundred meters.
If the two leaders have never been exceeded on the track, the battle for the podium raged. Thanks to a fresher tire train, Leclerc passed Norris in the 25th round and finally believed to hold the podium after which the Scuderia runs since the start of the season. Las! Norris, whose McLaren was intrinsically higher than the Ferrari, was returned to five laps from the end.
By taking seventh place, the Frenchman Pierre Gasly gave Alpine his first points of the season. The French team was the only one, after three Grands Prix, to have not yet scored any point.
