Max Verstappen demoted after shock Ba…..read more
In a dramatic twist at the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix, four-time Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen has slipped down the drivers’ championship standings after enduring a difficult weekend in Sakhir. The Red Bull ace entered the weekend closely trailing his main title rival, Lando Norris, by just a single point. However, Verstappen’s struggles in qualifying left him starting from seventh on the grid, just behind Norris in sixth, setting the stage for a tense battle between the two front-runners.
As the lights went out on race day, Norris got off to an uncharacteristically strong start. The McLaren driver surged through the field in the opening laps, making up three positions to place himself in third. It was a promising start for Norris, who has often been criticized for his slow race launches. However, controversy soon followed when Verstappen reported over team radio that Norris had positioned his car beyond the legal limits of his starting box. After reviewing the incident, race stewards agreed with Verstappen’s assessment and handed Norris a five-second time penalty.
Despite this early setback, Norris kept his composure and fought back brilliantly. He managed to reclaim third place before the race concluded, showing impressive pace and strategic control under pressure. The penalty ultimately did little to hamper his progress, and he crossed the finish line in third, securing vital points that allowed him to extend his lead in the championship standings.
Meanwhile, the Bahrain race marked a further downturn for Verstappen. While he managed to complete the race, he failed to make a significant impact on the top positions, and his seventh-place start proved too much to overcome. His underwhelming performance, combined with Norris’s strong result, caused him to lose ground in the title fight.
Adding to McLaren’s celebrations, Oscar Piastri delivered a standout performance to claim his fourth career victory. Piastri’s win now places him in serious contention in the championship, as he continues to build on his growing reputation as one of the sport’s rising stars. With both McLaren drivers now occupying the top spots in the standings, Red Bull and Verstappen face increased pressure as they look to bounce back in the upcoming rounds.
The Bahrain Grand Prix has thus turned the tide early in the 2025 season, with McLaren firmly staking their claim as championship frontrunners, and Verstappen left searching for answers after a rare off-weekend.
