McLaren Stuns at F1 Bahrain with 1-2 Finish! Piastri Sets Fastest Time

Is an “Orange Hurricane” the Main Act of the 2025 Season?

The Bahrain night blazed with excitement ahead of the opening race. During the second free practice session (FP2) held at the Bahrain International Circuit on April 11, 2025, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri set the fastest time with a lap of 1 minute, 30.505 seconds. Teammate Lando Norris followed closely in second place, just 0.154 seconds behind, securing a commanding one-two finish for the orange team.

This impressive run is no mere coincidence. McLaren’s machine demonstrated consistent speed on both the straights and in the medium-speed corners, showcasing a serious intent for qualifying and the race.

Mercedes’ George Russell secured 3rd place, followed by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in 4th, and the highly anticipated rookie, Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), who impressively ranked 5th.

These promising young talents are already starting to put pressure on the veterans.

Furthermore, Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar finished 6th, with Max Verstappen (Red Bull) in 7th and Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) rounding out the top eight in 8th.

The Aston Martin team faced some drama. Fernando Alonso experienced an unexpected incident where his steering wheel suddenly came off while driving, but fortunately, he avoided a crash. He managed to return to the pits on his own, and the car was undamaged.

He commented, “The steering wheel coming off was unexpected, but I’m glad I’m okay.

In FP2, each team conducted long runs and qualifying simulations in parallel. A wide range of tests were performed, including tire usage, ERS management, and cooling performance, making it a session where the true potential of each team could be glimpsed.