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F1 returns to Sakhir this weekend for the Bahrain Grand Prix and round four of the 2025 F1 season.
It was another difficult weekend for Ferrari in Suzuka, short of pace compared to the frontrunners, with Charles Leclerc finishing in fourth and Lewis Hamilton down in seventh, though the Brit hinted that a change is forthcoming to the SF-25 car.
Now, the grid returns to Bahrain - where pre-season testing took place in February - for the second race in the Asian triple-header. Verstappen won last year’s race in Bahrain, leading home a Red Bull one-two.
Lando Norris leads the world championship by one point to Max Verstappen
TOP-10 - DRIVER STANDINGS
2. Max Verstappen – 61 points
3. Oscar Piastri – 49 points
4. George Russell –45 points
5. Kimi Antonelli – 30 points
6. Charles Leclerc – 20 points
7. Alex Albon – 18 points
9. Esteban Ocon – 10 points
10. Lance Stroll – 10 points
Kieran Jackson12 April 2025 10:07
Bahrain GP start times and weekend schedule:
All times BST
Saturday 12 April
- Free practice 3: 1:30pm
- Qualifying: 5pm
Sunday 13 April
Kieran Jackson12 April 2025 09:09
FLASHBACK: The year a scorching Bahrain Grand Prix smashed F1 temperature record
“I was so excited about the race that I didn’t even sweat,” Pedro De la Rosa tells The Independent. “I didn’t drink at all – back then if you didn’t put in a drinks bottle, you saved weight on the car. So, we didn’t even fit it.”
Performance over health? He won’t be the last in F1. Yet the second iteration of the Bahrain Grand Prix, 20 years ago, was the most extreme example in the sport’s 75-year history of drivers prioritising pace over physical condition. At 42.6C, beating 40C temperatures in Dallas and Detroit in the mid-1980s, it was the hottest F1 race ever.
Full feature below:
Kieran Jackson12 April 2025 08:02
VIDEO: Lewis Hamilton 'confident' that Ferrari can close gap to McLaren at Bahrain grand prix
Kieran Jackson12 April 2025 07:01
F1 driver standings after three races:
2. Max Verstappen – 61 points
3. Oscar Piastri – 49 points
4. George Russell –45 points
5. Kimi Antonelli – 30 points
6. Charles Leclerc – 20 points
7. Alex Albon – 18 points
9. Esteban Ocon – 10 points
10. Lance Stroll – 10 points
11. Nico Hulkenberg – 6 points
13. Isack Hadjar – 4 points
12. Ollie Bearman – 5 points
15. Carlos Sainz – 1 point
16. Pierre Gasly – 0 points
17. Liam Lawson – 0 points
18. Jack Doohan – 0 points
19. Gabriel Bortoleto – 0 points
20. Fernando Alonso – 0 points
Kieran Jackson12 April 2025 06:03
Max Verstappen compared to Michael Schumacher by former F1 driver after Japan GP comment
“It was interesting that before the race, Max Verstappen came out with a very Michael Schumacher-esque comment which was, ‘I don't have a chance this weekend!’” Herbert said.
Full quotes below:
Kieran Jackson12 April 2025 05:03
F1 constructor standings after the first three races:
1. McLaren - 111 points
2. Mercedes - 75 points
3. Red Bull - 61 points
4. Ferrari - 35 points
5. Williams - 19 points
6. Haas - 15 points
7. Aston Martin - 10 points
8. Racing Bulls - 7 points
9. Sauber - 6 points
10. Alpine - 0 points
Kieran Jackson12 April 2025 03:00
Sebastian Vettel reveals ‘only regret’ from glory-laden F1 career
Sebastian Vettel admits that not speaking out on social, equality and climate issues earlier in his racing career is his “only regret” from his time in Formula One.
“When I started as a rookie, I was solely focused on racing and it was the only thing that was occupying my day,” Vettel told the BBC last month.
“But towards the last couple of years, I think it’s probably one of the things, maybe the only thing that I would say I regret, is not to speak out earlier in my career and seeing the potential power in terms of reach and audience that you might have as a professional athlete to inspire people.”
Full story below:
Kieran Jackson12 April 2025 02:01
FIA STATEMENT ON MEETING ON 2026 ENGINE RULES:
- All parties are committed to the 2026 regulations and look forward to the prospect of exciting racing
- All parties agreed to continue discussions on the future technical direction of the sport
- A level of electrification will always be part of any future considerations
- The use of sustainable fuel will be an imperative
- Consideration will be given to adjustments on financial regulations relating to Power Units as part of broader cost reductions
- Policing of those regulations will be a priority
Whichever engine roadmap is decided upon, the FIA is supportive of the teams and PU manufacturers in ensuring containment of costs of R&D expenditure, taking account of environmental considerations and acting in the best interests of the sport and the fans.
Kieran Jackson12 April 2025 01:02
Brundle on McLaren's dominance:
“There’s no doubt the McLaren is the fastest car, probably a tenth of a second a lap compared to the rest,” Brundle told Sky Sports F1.
“It’s a different race here, you can build a tyre advantage. Should they have tried to destabilise Red Bull? I think so yes. It’s very easy to sit on the sofa and say ‘do that, do this’, you can look quite foolish.”
Kieran Jackson11 April 2025 23:32
English (US) ·