Bahrain GP FP2 Recap: Max Verstappen upset as McLaren sweep… Read more
McLaren made a spectacular impression during Free Practice 2 at the Bahrain Grand Prix on Friday, as Oscar Piastri topped the timesheets, leading teammate Lando Norris in a dominant 1-2 performance. This impressive result left reigning world champion Max Verstappen and his Red Bull team grappling with a difficult session.
The session unfolded under the lights of the Bahrain International Circuit, where McLaren’s early pace set the tone. Piastri, who has been showing promising form in his rookie season, posted a quickest lap of 1:30.505, edging out Norris by just 0.154 seconds. This result followed Norris’ standout performance in FP1, where he also made his presence felt at the front. Behind McLaren’s drivers, the gap to the rest of the field was significant, with George Russell of Mercedes taking third place, albeit already 0.5 seconds adrift of the McLarens.
Max Verstappen, who dominated the opening rounds of the season, faced a frustrating session. Despite his previous success with Red Bull, the Dutch driver struggled in Bahrain, ultimately finishing a distant seventh. He found himself nearly eight-tenths of a second off the pace set by Piastri. The team was visibly perplexed, as they worked to identify the source of their deficit.
The session’s timing and conditions seemed to work in McLaren’s favor, as the team has shown an impressive improvement in form over the past few races. Their recent upgrades and fine-tuning have clearly paid off, making them a serious challenger to Red Bull’s dominance.
In contrast, Verstappen admitted that he and Red Bull were facing challenges with the car’s balance and setup. This difficulty was compounded by a lack of consistent performance throughout the session, leaving the defending champion somewhat disappointed with his progress. After securing a comfortable victory in the 2023 season, Verstappen’s struggle in FP2 has led to increased scrutiny of Red Bull’s setup and tire management for the weekend.
Meanwhile, another driver who experienced his own set of challenges during the session was Yuki Tsunoda. The Japanese driver acknowledged that his performance in FP2 was “messy,” citing a lack of rhythm and consistency as the primary issue during his run. Tsunoda has shown potential this season, but it was evident that Bahrain’s conditions were a tough test for him and his AlphaTauri team.
As the teams prepare for the rest of the weekend, McLaren’s unexpected success in FP2 has shaken up the expectations for the Bahrain GP, with fans eager to see if the Woking-based team can maintain their pace against Red Bull, who will be looking to recover their performance in the final practice sessions and
qualifying.
