McLaren continued their impressive start to the 2025 Formula 1 season by topping both Friday practice sessions at the Bahrain Grand Prix, leaving rivals stunned by their pace. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri finished one-two in the key evening session, with McLaren’s lap-time advantage exceeding half a second.
While Mercedes’ George Russell and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen were quick to acknowledge McLaren’s blistering form, Norris played it down, saying their car felt “shocking” in the heat compared to pre-season testing. He insisted rivals hadn’t shown their full hand yet, suggesting differences in engine modes skewed the timesheets.
Still, the chatter around McLaren’s MCL39 continues to grow, with Verstappen remarking after Japan that he’d be untouchable in their car, and Russell claiming McLaren should win every race. Verstappen struggled for grip in P2, finishing seventh and calling the session “not a lot of fun,” while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, despite floor upgrades, admitted McLaren looked untouchable.
The chasing trio of Red Bull, Mercedes, and Ferrari now appear closely matched, but it’s McLaren that enters qualifying day as the standout threat — even if Norris and Piastri are keeping expectations grounded ahead of the race.
Source: Swifteradio.com
