Oscar Piastri produced a blistering lap time in FP3 to lead team-mate Lando Norris as McLaren managed a practice clean sweep at the Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix.
Piastri consolidated the Woking-based squad’s position as the team to beat in Sakhir with a lap that was more than eight tenths quicker than Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
With the last practice hour being held in unrepresentative conditions, there was little enthusiasm among the teams to go out on track once the green light was shown.
Alpine, Haas and Ferrari were the sole teams who elected to head out to bank some running in the opening 10 minutes, while the rest decided to remain in the garage.
However, the two McLaren drivers ascended to the top once they ventured out on the Soft compound, Piastri retaining a 0.472-second advantage over his team-mate.
Hulkenberg prompts minor stoppage
There was a pause in proceedings as the session passed the mid-point as Nico Hulkenberg parked his Sauber at Turn 8, reporting that the car had gone into anti-stall.
The increased wind speed was proving troublesome and George Russell was caught out as he spun around at Turn 10, prompting him to rue the limited grip available.
Piastri’s earlier time had remained unbeaten until Max Verstappen, who had run wide at Turn 11 on his opening attempt, eclipsed the Australian’s lap with a 1:33.027s.
But while Alpine’s Pierre Gasly dipped into the 1:32s to beat Verstappen, Piastri improved in all three sectors to go 1.3s clear at the top as Kimi Antonelli went second.
Piastri produces scintillating pace
Piastri’s 1:31.646s time would stand as the benchmark as the chequered flag waved, with Norris in the second McLaren unable to get within six tenths of his best lap.
Leclerc was the nearest challenger to the McLaren pairing as he slotted his Ferrari into third, less than two tenths behind Norris, but over eight tenths down on Piastri.
George Russell headed Antonelli as the two Mercedes drivers completed the top five, albeit both were over a second slower than Piastri, dropping Gasly back to sixth.
Isack Hadjar fronted Racing Bulls’ assault in seventh to be the lead Red Bull affiliate, edging out Verstappen. Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton rounded out the top 10.
Esteban Ocon was situated behind in 11th position in the Haas to head Jack Doohan in the second Alpine, Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin and Alex Albon’s Williams.
That trio separated the Haas combination as Oliver Bearman was 16th, over a second down on team-mate Ocon. Lance Stroll also resided behind in the Aston Martin.
Gabriel Bortoleto and stricken Sauber team-mate Hulkenberg avoided bringing up the rear, as Yuki Tsunoda struggled to the slowest overall time, three seconds down.
READ MORE – F1 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix – FP3 Results
