Max Verstappen produced a miraculous drive to extend his unbeaten record in Japan to four years last weekend, but McLaren have the pace to bounce back at a track that offers more passing opportunities in this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix.
World Drivers’ Championship leader Lando Norris is 13/8 favourite heading to the Bahrain International Circuit, with teammate Oscar Piastri a close second and Verstappen rounding off the top three at 7/2.
Bahrain Grand Prix Tips
- Oscar Piastri to win @ 2/1
- Kimi Antonelli to finish in the top 6 @ 8/13
- Oliver Bearman to finish in the points @ TBC
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Piastri to reassert papaya dominance
Starting from second on the grid, Piastri was in with his best chance yet of securing a home Grand Prix win in Australia in the season opener before an early spin in the rain put him out of contention, but the McLaren driver has responded well to this setback.
He finished second in the Chinese Sprint and improved to win the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday, and he looked the faster of the two McLarens around Suzuka last weekend.
He may have finished third behind teammate Norris, but he claimed to have the pace to challenge eventual-winner Verstappen in the closing stages of the race, and he looks good value to return to winning ways at a circuit that should take Verstappen out of contention.
The reigning world champion produced a remarkable qualifying lap at Suzuka to take pole position and benefited from the limited overtaking opportunities to hold on for the Grand Prix win, but the McLaren is the quickest car on the grid by some distance and that leaves the papaya duo as justified favourites heading into round four.
Leading the World Drivers’ Championship after a win and two silver medals, it is understandable that Norris is the favourite, but he has lost to his teammate in seven of the last 17 Grands Prix and that number would be greater if not for the ‘Papaya Rules’ enforced as the Brit battled for the World Drivers’ Championship.
Piastri and Norris appear closely matched in terms of pace, making the Australian the better option at longer odds.
Rookie duo to continue impressive start
With six brand new faces on the permanent grid, 2025 is the year of the rookies and some of the newcomers have impressed more than others.
One has has shown up well in the early stages of the season is Kimi Antonelli, who stepped into the massive shoes left behind by Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, and the 18-year-old is repaying Toto Wolff’s faith in him so far.
The Italian became the youngest driver to record a fastest lap and the youngest driver to lead a Grand Prix in Japan last weekend on his way to a third successive top-six finish. The Silver Arrows have what appears to be the second-fastest car on the grid, making Antonelli a good bet to continue his impressive start to Formula One life.
Another rookie who has stepped up to the plate is Oliver Bearman, who burst on to the scene as he took the wheel of Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari in Saudi Arabia last season.
His performance in the Ferrari, along with two more outings for Haas later in the season, earned the 19-year-old a permanent position with the American team, and he has recovered well from an error-strewn opener in Australia.
Bearman followed that disappointing start with an eighth-place finish in China and tenth in Japan last weekend, and he can take his respectably fast Haas to another points finish in Bahrain.
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