Bahrain Grand Prix: What’s at stake this weekend?

Ferrari: Raise the tone to catch up with the leaders.

If the Scuderia still wants to believe in winning the title this season, an immediate wake-up is necessary. The underwhelming performances in the first three races have highlighted the current limits of the SF-25, especially in race pace. Charles Leclerc achieved some strong performances in free practice and Lewis Hamilton secured a fine victory in the sprint race in China. However, this remains too isolated and inconsistent to compete with Red Bull, Mercedes, and McLaren.

Moreover, Lewis Hamilton struggles to assert himself against Charles Leclerc. Different car settings and a different long-term development vision seem to create trouble for the Reds.

The management of tires, strategy, and above all, consistency must absolutely improve in Bahrain. The podium is a must.

Yuki Tsunoda: Convince Red Bull quickly or disappear as well?

The Japanese driver reached a milestone in 2025, with more stable performances and better channeled aggressiveness. This is instantly felt in pure performance. He proved it during free practice in Suzuka by being close to his leader. However, he collapsed under pressure in qualifying and failed to impress in the race.

The Japanese driver can no longer afford to make mistakes: he must prove that he can regularly play the points, help develop the car, and perhaps even compete directly with Max Verstappen (but not too much…).

Sakhir will be a second test: if he shines on a track where he has often shown speed, doors could open for the rest of the season.

Alpine: Points, at last!

The start of the season is catastrophic for Alpine from a financial standpoint. Neither Gasly nor Doohan have scored any points yet. Therefore, the French team is at the bottom of the standings and is the only team with a zero score.

The pressure is mounting, and Flavio Briatore will not be satisfied with a mediocre result. Especially since Jack Doohan is already on the hot seat. His “possible” replacement is testing at Monza and would like to “snatch” his seat as soon as F1 returns to Europe for the Emilia-Romagna GP in Imola.

However, it should be noted that Pierre Gasly managed some impressive lap times during qualifying. The pace is therefore present in the blue and pink car.

Thus, Bahrain could and should represent an opportunity: a demanding but often unpredictable circuit, especially in strategy. It will be necessary to be opportunistic, reactive… and above all, not make any mistakes. A top 10 finish is imperative to keep one’s head above water.

McLaren: Should a Leader Be Chosen?

Norris and Piastri have been close in performance since the start of the season, but the points scored and strategic results raise a real question: should a driver be prioritized in the race for victories or podiums?

McLaren has the means to confirm its superiority against Mercedes and Ferrari and Red Bull, but every point will count.

The risks? Seeing its two drivers neutralize each other due to absolute fairness. Or even creating frustration in one or the other and leading to conflict like in 2006? The effect would be devastating while the “papaya team” has everything to succeed on both fronts.

Bahrain could be revealing: if one of the two gains the upper hand, the team may need to choose a clearer course.

In summary

Bahrain will be much more than just a simple fourth race. Amid doubts, ambitions, and internal rivalries, the Sakhir circuit could already play a key role in the dynamics of the 2025 season. One thing is certain: the spotlight will not only be on the track… but also on each team’s choices.